As a result of a very generous donation valued over $26,000 from Lewis Stafford Carey MD in 2008, a new Carolinian arboretum and trail is “growing” at Longwoods Road Conservation Area, just west of London in the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc. On June 20, 2010, the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority and the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Foundation recognized and celebrated with the Carey Family, all project partners and donors. Approximately 70 guests attended the event. In addition, the Carey Family presented a $5,000 cheque from the estate of their father at the official opening followed by the official ribbon cutting.
Donations in memory of Dr. Lewis Carey are being accepted by the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Foundation for the Carey Carolinian Trail and Arboretum.
Donations can be mailed to:
Lower Thames Valley Conservation Foundation
R.R.#1, 8449 Irish Drive,
Mount Brydges, ON – N0L 1W0
Email: Yournature@lowerthamesfoundation.ca
Download Carey Carolinian Arboretum and Trail Brochure
Carey Carolinian Arboretum and Trail Kiosk at Longwoods Road Conservation Area
Displays about Carolinian Canada and the Arboretum and Trail at Longwoods are found in this Kiosk.
Pale Jewelweed Impatiens pallida
Blue-spotted/Jefferson Salamander Ambystoma laterale/ jeffersonianum
Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus
Southern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys volans
Eastern Redbud Cercis Canadensis
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus
Silver Shiner Notropis photogenis
Blanding’s Turtle Emydoidea blandingii
Download Interesting Facts About Some Longwoods Plants and Animals
Carey Carolinian Arboretum and Trail Kiosk Gardens
Planted in 2014, the Carey Carolinian Arboretum and Trail Kiosk Gardens promote biodiversity and demonstrate to gardeners how effective, beautiful, and beneficial floral gardens and native species can be. Twenty five native plants are represented. These plants grow well in the sandy loam soil condition of the local Caradoc Sand Plain. Four gardens contain sun and partial-sun plants while the garden next to the entrance of the Longwoods Road Conservation Area’s Resource Centre contains shade plants. Most of the sun-loving plants were components of the tallgrass prairies that once blanketed parts of southwestern Ontario. The shade-loving plants do well in our Carolinian Eco-Zone forests. These plants and gardens will serve school and volunteer groups as seed banks for local forest restoration projects and will help spread the message of respect for and stewardship of our natural heritage. Our forests face many threats ranging from alien invasive species to deforestation. All of these plants have important benefits for field and forest, water, soil, wildlife, and even ourselves.
To learn more about these plants download the Native Wildflowers Longwoods Road Conservation Area – Kiosk Gardens brochure available here: