Huge Paper Wasp Nest

This wasp nest was found on the high ceiling of an old stone home just down the street. Larry Cotton (author of the Whiskey & Wickedness series of local history books we carry in the shop) was renovating his kitchen. When he tore out a built-in clothes cupboard with a false ceiling, there it was. He kindly gave it to Nature Lover’s Bookshop where it serves as a reminder of what incredible architects and builders wasps are!

Our friend and good customer biologist Ted Mosquin tells us that the nest was created by the Paper Wasp. These wasps prefer protected spots in the woods or man-made structure such as an attic or barn – or in this case an old home where the cupboard has an “attic”. The wasps chew wood fibre into sheets of saliva-soaked pulp that dries into the fine fray paper walls of their nests. Starting out small, the nest expands in progressive layers as the colony grows through the summer*. We can only imagine how many wasps must have lived that one season in this nest that is over 22 inches tall and 24 inches wide!! And that would have been for only one season as wasps do not return to the same nest from year to year.
Similarly, wasps are territorial and do not settle where other wasps have a nest – and why we sell Wasps Away - fake wasp nests rather than wasp catchers. The Wasp Away doesn’t kill the wasps, just convinces them to move along somewhere else to take up residence.
*Stokes Guide to Observing Insects available at Nature Lover’s Bookshop for only $12.99, one of over 50 adult insect books (and another 120 insect books for kids!) in stock.

We're batty!

Hallowe'en is just around the corner and along with "How to Carve a Pumpkin" books and cookbooks featuring squash and pumpkins, Hallowe'en sticker books and storybooks we have all kind of bat items: fingerpuppets, storybooks, even a robotic bat with flashing eyes that kids can make!

At Nature Lover's Bookshop, we LOVE bats! Earlier this year, we invited a bat expert from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Amy Cameron, and the place was packed! Amy gave a most inspiring and entertaining presentation on Ontario's Little Brown Bat, and its many benefits especially as a mosquito-eating phenom! A mother bat will eat its weight in mosquitoes every day. These fascinating, nocturnal, echolocating little mammals (our only mammals that truly fly) are very beneficial to humans in other ways besides being an impressive insect devourer. They pollinate flowers and plant new trees!

Amy Cameron explained that the species is at risk due White Nose Syndrome, a fungus that is alarmingly decimating the bat population. We learned many ways to protect bats by building warm houses for them (we have books in the store on how to build bat houses) and how to create a bat-friendly habitat.

You can see that we love these often misunderstood and maligned creatures and you've learned why we do. Check some of the books on our shelves: http://www.bookmanager.com/nature/?STG=307058928&opt=kw&q=h.ts&tsf=y&so=oh&qs=bats

We had a special visitor to the store!

Under the Believe It or Not" category...

This was written my our Mary Dixon about a recent 'visitor' to the Nature Lover's Bookshop:

"I was standing at the counter and a customer in the astronomy section called out "There's a skunk in the store!"

I looked at her and smiled thinking she has seen our skunk hand puppet. It must have been a "Sure, dear' look because she added, louder, "Seriously, there is a skunk in the store!!

I strolled over and THERE IT WAS!! Cute as a button - a baby skunk. It was walking slowing and calmly around, up through the kids' section, then over to the T-shirts, investigating - at which point I kind of directed it to the door - no hurry - and out it went! We laughed! The right store for a baby skunk visitor, don't you think?

We have many books about skunks for kids or grown ups including many guides on how to identify animal tracks in the wild, e.g. Welcome to the World of Skunks , by Diane Swanson as well as acclaimed outdoorsman Tom Brown's The Science and Art of Tracking Come and see us in Lanark Village!

Mary wins 2009 Eco Stewardship award

Mary Vandenhoff, owner of Nature Lover's Bookshop in Lanark Village was awarded a prestigious Ottawa award in April! Check out this press release:

Ottawa, April 3, 2009

LANARK ENVIRONMENTALIST, MARY VANDENHOFF, RECEIVES 2009 OTTAWA ECO-STEWARDSHIP AWARD

Mary Vandenhoff, a well-known environmental leader in Lanark, will receive the 2009 Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Award. The Award, a limited edition print entitled ‘Lily Pond Ruddy Ducks’ by artist Patricia Pepin will be presented by David McGuinty, MP for Ottawa South at a ceremony at 10 a.m. at the 2009 Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair being held on Saturday, April 18th at the RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive in Ottawa.

Mary’s record of environmental leadership is an exceptional one. In 2003, as Lanark Highlands Chair of Community Economic Development, she launched the Art of Being Green Festival with the support of Bill Kemp. In that first year, it put Lanark on the map as home of the largest renewable energy festival in Canada, a festival that has become an annual event.

Also in 2003, Mary opened the Nature Lover’s Bookshop, a unique book and gift shop that has become one of the treasures of Lanark Village, attracting people from throughout the region. It is dedicated to promoting greater understanding and appreciation of the natural world for young and old alike, with more than 1000 children’s titles alone. Sustainable living is also a strong focus.

Over the years, Mary has worked tirelessly in furthering environmental stewardship. As a long-time member and President of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Foundation, due to increased fundraising and volunteer efforts, there were major renovations to the Mill of Kintail Museum, a new “uplands trail” constructed at the Purdon Conservation Area, and interpretive signage installed at the Mill, Purdon and Morris Island Conservation areas.

Mary is a member of the Community Stewardship Council of Lanark County and Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust Conservancy Board of Directors where she actively promotes conservation and stewardship on private lands. Not one to rest on her laurels, she is presently involved in organizing a Mississippi River Heritage Festival this summer.

According to fellow environmentalist and artist, Ankaret Dean, “Mary is a major force in presenting a clear vision of how, working together, people and organizations can improve awareness and understanding of our immediate natural environment and through it, the world beyond.” While many of Mary Vandenhoff’s initiatives are local to Lanark Highlands, the benefits are enjoyed by the National Capital Region and beyond, as visitors to the Mississippi Valley Conservation Areas, the festivals and the bookshop can attest.

The Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair is celebrating its 6th annual year of this very successful event. Visitors will have the opportunity to interact with over 100 exhibits featuring the latest in health, local food, home and garden, energy, transportation, nature, and eco-tourism ideas. In addition, there will be seminars, a 100 Mile Lunch, cooking demonstrations and an eco-carnival for children. The Fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with free admission and parking. For more information, visit www.ottawaecofair.ca.

For more information:
Donna DuBreuil
Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair Planning Committee
(613) 726-8178
ocwc@ncf.ca

We have a moose in our store!

The life and adventures of Whiticar, the Moose

Born in the Big Smoke, the young Whiticar showed a great sense of adventure early in life by traveling to Florida where he made many new friends. He knew his true homeland was Canada and he soon returned north to take up residence in the village of Balderson, Ontario.

After years of living with the kind folk of that village, faithfully keeping watch outside the Balderson Cheese store, one night Whiticar, the Moose went missing. He was later discovered badly bruised and beaten in a ditch. Restored to health, he returned to Balderson once again welcoming visitors to the cheese and chocolate stores. Then in the spring of 2005, some cruel brutes stole him once again this time breaking two of his legs and injuring one of his splendid antlers.

Whiticar, showing his true Canadian heart, bravely escaped and made his way to Tim Horton’s in Almonte, confident that someone there could help him get back to Balderson. He was right about that and he was rescued and brought home to Balderson once again.

Unfortunately, his troubles still weren’t over. His family there found they were no longer able to care for him. Now, not only did Whiticar need several operations to mend his legs and antler, Whiticar was now orphaned and homeless as well! A sad state of affairs indeed but happily Whiticar’s situation was about to change for the better.

Not far up the road in Lanark Village there was a spot that loved animals, especially those from the Canadian wild, a shop called the Nature Lover's Bookshop. Whiticar was invited to join a family there of forest animals who welcomed visitors coming to explore the natural wonders of the shop. He gratefully and tearfully accepted the kind invitation but he was still in need of extensive surgery to repair his injuries.

As it turned out, locally renowned auto body repairman, Jerry Dowell, was also a very talented moose doctor. Jerry agreed to perform the necessary surgery Whiticar to give Whiticar a new lease on life. To celebrate his regained health, Whiticar went to the Perth Fair in 2005 to tell his friends that things were finally looking up for him. After the fair, Whiticar traveled to his permanent new home in Lanark Village safe inside the Nature Lover’s Bookshop. He has been welcomed there ever since with old friends and new regularly stopping in to say hello.

So you see there is such a thing as a happy ending, after all.

What makes the Nature Lover's Bookshop so unique?

Do you love nature, birding, canoeing, stargazing, fishing, rock hunting, wilderness camping, cycling? Do you appreciate the history and the artistic talents of the Lanark Highlands in beautiful rural eastern Ontario? Only an hour’s drive from Ottawa, 10 minutes from historic Perth, Ontario and 25 minutes from Smith’s Falls, the Nature Lover’s Bookshop in the Lanark Highlands will bring you to a unique store that will surprise and amaze you. Come to the Nature Lover's Bookshop and explore the wide range of books, nature-related gifts, maps, games and puzzles to delight the adventurous or armchair naturalist and the outdoor enthusiast including huge children’s book section features science books, bugs, geography, mammals, junior astronomy, dinosaurs, and much, much (and we mean much) more! We also carry Lanark Sheepskin hats, mitts and slippers, the wonderfully tasty Glengyle Garlic feta cheese spreads, Paul’s Maple Syrup, Highlands Organic Honey and many other locally made items. Be sure to check our Events page for upcoming events and special visitors to the store.
Located at 62 George Street in Lanark Village, Ontario. Call 613-259-5654 (it is not long distance from Ottawa) or call toll free 888-270-2295 or email us at natureloversbookshop@bellnet.ca.

Pay us a visit and be prepared to be amazed!