[EXPLORE] Headwaters Trail

Headwaters Park is located off Cowan Point Road directly across the street from Quarry Park. Turn left onto Sunset Road from Adams Road and continue towards the golf course. Turn right at the crosswalk which is the entrance to Quarry Park - park and cross the street to Headwaters trailhead.

The trail encircles a marshy wetlands with a beautiful series of raised boardwalks through the centre. It's a level walk, which is stroller friendly for the majority (if choosing to cut through the centre onto the boardwalks, the narrow entrance through the forest is tricky with a stroller) and is filled with beautiful vegetation unique to this area.

In the summertime, you can find many different species of ferns, moss, wild violets and sundews (a carnivorous plant native to our marshlands) as well as, hundreds of beautiful mushrooms in the fall.

The backside of the trail connects with the Josephine Ridge trail, which is another mid island treasure.

For more information please visit Bowen Island Conservancy

[TUTORIAL] Leaf Portraits

November crafts are all about preserving the last of our fall leaves before the rains and snow hit our coast. A good idea is to get out there now and collect these lovelies and press them so they're ready and at your fingertips all winter long.

Our first ode to fall are these fun leaf portraits. We used scrapbooking paper, however any kind of paper will work. Try newsprint, ledger paper, magazines...the sky's the limit.

SUPPLIES:

• Fresh or pressed leaves
• Decorative paper
• Cardboard or heavy card stock
• White glue
• Foam brush
• Google eyes
• Wax paper
• Heavy book (for pressing)

STEP ONE Cut cardboard and decorative paper to desired size. We used a 5" x 5" square.

STEP TWO Cut 'frame' out of complimentary decorative paper (a solid colour would work well too) same size as in STEP ONE with opening - we used a 3/4" border.

STEP THREE Pat leaves dry if damp and create your character. When happy with arrangement, use a foam brush to spread an even layer of glue to the leaf. Press well in place. Continue with all leaves.

STEP FOUR Sandwich leaf portrait between wax paper and place inside a heavy book to help dry flat.

STEP FIVE Once piece is dry, adhere the leaf portrait to cardboard backing by once again applying an even coat of glue with foam brush. Adhere border and glue eyes and other facial features...admire your new portrait.

MORE IDEAS Rather than a paper border, try twigs or popsicle sticks. Add other natural elements to leaf portrait such as feathers, acorn caps, seashells...get creative and have fun!

[EXPLORE] Mike's Lorg

For many, Adams Roads' only use is to get from point A to point B. But for those of us that live in this valley, we know that Adams Road has much more to offer than what meets the eye.

Our first exploration of mid-island is Mike's Lorg Trail. We LOVE this trail all year round - especially since it's stroller and kid friendly. The trail head is located on Buchanen Road, after crossing over Explosive Creek on your right side. The trail dips rather steeply into a beautiful, wooded valley with massive trees, and a rushing creek. The first bridge you cross, has steps that lead you to a little sitting area. In the spring, it is filled with bright green and yellow skunk cabbage, frogs, salamanders...a real nature explorers delight.

The second bridge, leads you out of the forest and follows the back side of Donna and Pat Buchanen's Highland farm. The gently rolling pastures and rustic outbuildings make a beautiful back drop on this stretch of the walk. We love visiting with the donkeys and horse. They're very friendly, and will follow you along the trail from their side of the fence.

When the trail ends, you will find yourself on Grafton Road and the entrace to Highland. If open, Donna always has farm fresh eggs for sale, along with her homemade preseves and fresh produce from the garden depending on the season. Continue along Grafton and turn right onto Adams to complete the loop.