Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 22/99) - Alexandra Milburn is asking people to come out and see what's blooming at the museum.

Milburn and Prince of Wales curator of education, Barb Cameron, are working together to kick off a series of evening presentations at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.

She said over the years the museum's community display area has housed everything from painted Easter eggs to artifacts commemorating Remembrance Day.

"The What's Blooming at the Museum walk is connected to the community display we have. We were looking for something to start off a series of evening presentations and the timing was right," Cameron said.

"The whole theme of looking at berries and plants is appropriate for fall time. We're hoping this event will kick off an entire series of community driven evening presentations."

The idea of the nature walk blossomed when Milburn decided to make use of the community display area to showcase some of the indigenous plants in the area.

"I'm just setting it up now, but when I'm finished people will have an idea about what one needs to do to start a plant collection. There will also be a selection of berries that bloom in the area," Milburn said of her display.

For the walk and talk, the public is invited to bring recipes to swap. The idea is for people to come together to share their knowledge about nature.

"I hope the public will learn how much fun it is to be out in nature. It's thrilling to be able to name what you see. There are people who walk past certain plants everyday and don't know what they are," Milburn said.

"What I hope is that those who take an interest in their environment will get a sense of wonder and peace when they're outside. I think you feel more in balance with nature when you get down on your hands and knees to look at the plants and see how they survive in their environment."

Milburn plans to cook a caribou roast with a juniper berry marinade. Refreshments and bannock will also be served.

What's Blooming at the Museum will be held Thursday, Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m. It starts at the museum and everyone is welcome.