tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77733359296858932612012-01-16T04:11:00.345-05:00for native plant gardeners & stewards in Toronto and southern Ontarionative plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.comBlogger1201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-7215772056188275552011-08-18T18:43:00.003-04:002011-09-01T17:17:15.844-04:00

Swallow-wort Biocontrols Pass Test. 2 moths = hope.

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-15457163384760377632011-05-06T14:34:00.009-04:002011-05-06T15:12:13.534-04:00

It's kick-off weekend for local native plant sales. As always, get there early!Saturday May 7th, 10am-3pmNorth American Native Plant Society's Annual Spring Native Plant SaleMarkham Civic Centre Atrium, Hwy. 7 and Warden Ave.Great plants and speakers! Details here.Sunday May 8th, 2011, 11am-2High Park Stewards' Native Plant SaleHigh Park, TorontoThe sale will take place in front of the High Park

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-79139522199876837532011-04-18T11:43:00.020-04:002011-05-09T03:59:23.332-04:00

"U of T's forestry school faces the axe" - The Globe and Mail.The article is from April 1st. (apologies it slipped by me)."Student Eric Jacobsen said “We do a lot more social and integrative approaches to forestry ...and it’s also less of an industry-focused program.”"And a choice place to learn about urban forestry.I'm dumbfounded.Why compromise the capacity of a faculty that already exists?And

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-83513119879556669732010-11-29T05:38:00.022-05:002010-11-30T16:32:52.675-05:00

The Role of Native Plant Seed Collectors and Growers in Protecting Floral Diversity by David N. MorrisA thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2010. Supervisor: Prof. Stephen D. Murphy."...The planting of native species is a common strategy for the conservation of

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-17617899346198369882010-11-24T02:22:00.007-05:002010-11-25T03:58:49.716-05:00

"As mankind continued to chip his chert for stone warfare at the end of the Stone Age, he became very interested in the nut as food. It is thought that the movement of a nut called hazel or Corylus across the world was due almost entirely to mankind's fondess for its flavour. Indeed in North America, the mesolithic practice of the grand savannah design came into being primarily as a nut pasture

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-76427159387092670612010-10-31T13:59:00.002-04:002010-10-31T14:02:00.084-04:00

Baker's Sugar Bush, Vaughn.

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-68059446781942388822010-10-31T13:40:00.013-04:002010-11-25T03:56:28.097-05:00

I love the Hallowe'en front porch displays, especially the gourds. But at this time of year what I really want in my yard is a Shagbark Hickory Carya Obvata.I don't have any good pics of mature Shagbarks myself, but here is a perfect one - do you see what I mean?What an unapologetically feral looking tree. In an urban residential front yard, it would stick out like a defiant middle finger among (

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-2649476998170367542010-09-30T04:26:00.005-04:002010-09-30T04:43:27.471-04:00

Sat Oct 2, 12-5pmFall Native Plant Sale & AGMNorth American Native Plant SocietyMarkham Civic Centre, 101 Town Centre Boulevard, Markham, ONThe good plants, at good prices too. The funds support NANPS. New to NANPS sales? Just by showing up you'll learn more about NANPS, similar local organizations and upcoming events. Pick up some of the free newsletters, outreach pamphlets etc on the tables,

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-29310964888009624942010-09-20T19:05:00.004-04:002010-09-20T19:34:02.771-04:00

...and wow, there's a lot going on!Curious? Click through the "Event Calendars" link at the top of the right sidebar (where it always lives).

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-44598098942965042672010-09-04T06:07:00.018-04:002010-09-20T11:59:05.965-04:00

Thurs Nov 4th -> Fri Nov 5thOntario Urban Forest Council 2010 conferenceHealthy Communities are Rooted in Urban ForestsThorold ON (Four Points by Sheraton, St. Catharines Niagara Suites 3530 Schmon Parkway) "This conference will be focusing on the relationship between urban forests and community health. Registration is not yet open. This is a save the date announcement. We are finalizing the

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-46978957541445569782010-09-04T05:16:00.004-04:002010-09-20T11:57:18.433-04:00

Mon-Tues, Oct 4th-5thOntario Invasive Plant Council2010 AGM & Invasive Plant SymposiumLondon ONThe OIPC's 4th Annual General Meeting and Invasive Plant Symposium will be held in London at the Lamplighter Inn. Be sure to register early for the October 4th field trips as space is limited. The Agenda will be updated regularly as details are confirmed. Click here to Register.Invasive sucks, but

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-43976253980354642102010-09-04T05:05:00.005-04:002010-09-20T11:58:23.004-04:00

Thurs-Sat, Oct 28th-30th, 2010Expanding Horizons - OLTA's 2010 GatheringOntario Land Trust AlliancePeterboroughLots of workshops and speakers, including hearing from funders on the status of their programs for land conservation. "We are looking forward to another fantastic gathering with more workshops, more field workshops and more networking opportunities. In keeping with the theme of "

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-46333538144681316382010-08-22T01:34:00.006-04:002010-08-22T05:15:03.406-04:00

Thurs Sept 9th 20107pm -9pmGrowing Native Edibles with Lorraine JohnsonA Young Urban Farmers CSA Summer WorkshopCentre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Ave. Suite 400, Alterna Savings room, TorontoCost: Pay what you can"Join acclaimed author and garden guru Lorraine Johnson for a workshop on edible native plants to grow in your garden. By growing these delicious plants native to the region,

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-22468947295711863632010-07-13T15:57:00.007-04:002010-07-13T16:15:22.298-04:00

Weds. Oct 27th 2010, 7:30pmBringing Nature Home - Douglas Tallamy LectureToronto Botanical Gardens Edwards Lectures in partnership with the North American Native Plant SocietyToronto Botanical Gardens, Floral Hall.Door sales only (this seems to be a popular question = why I'm posting this so early). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Limited seating. Admission: Public $20 / Students (with valid ID) $15 /

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-60763169327284552462010-07-13T12:51:00.010-04:002010-07-16T14:46:57.660-04:00

Wee life along Alvar Road, Carden Plains ONThis pic is full of wonders for me: i don't know the mushroom (but i love the way he looks like maybe he's curious about me too) or the grass or the lichen w/ the stove pipes. But what intrigues me the most is the 4th species in the photo: the one which absurdly looks like some kind of 3 inch tall rubbery kelp, but w/ prickly-spiny leaf edges. I feel

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-25225964999528266012010-05-12T04:17:00.002-04:002010-05-12T04:27:11.096-04:00

Sat May 29th, 8am - noonAnnual Native Plant SaleWaterloo-Wellington Wildflower Society (WWWS)21 College Ave West, Guelph Ontario Plants can be dropped off Friday May 28 or bring them early Saturday morning. Please label your plants with common and scientific name. Native plants only please. Also, they need some volunteers both Friday night from 6-8 to set up and Saturday morning from 8-12 to

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-41691561257222117062010-04-16T04:56:00.022-04:002010-10-24T08:04:57.352-04:00

Photo: High Park VSPSat May 1st 8am - noonLambton Wildlife Inc.'s Native Plant Sale1267 Lakeshore Road, Sarnia, Lambton CountyMoney from the plant sale goes to saving and purchasing environmentally sensitive land sites in Lambton County. Organizer: Brenda Kulon 869-2833Sat. May 8th 10am - 3pmNorth American Native Plant Society's (NANPS) Plant Sale101 Town Centre Blvd. Markham (Hwy 7 & Warden Ave)

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-92144574567583442862010-04-16T02:19:00.006-04:002010-09-20T11:24:39.110-04:00

Trees Ontario and the Forest Gene Conservation Association (FGCA) announce their 2010 Certified Seed Collector Workshops. This program is dedicated to increasing the supply of locally adapted seed of native woody species for planting in Ontario. Registration is limited and open now.

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-60092151390638429752010-04-16T01:55:00.007-04:002010-04-16T02:28:00.887-04:00

Registration open now in U of Guelph's online distance education's "Naturalizing and Restoring Urban Gardens". It's part of their new Sustainable Urban Horticulture certificate program.Since it's a new course in a new program, I only know as much as you do... except that I took a similar continuing ed course there (the Naturalized Landscape course, currently not offered, as part of their

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-90858590853918585392010-04-14T06:34:00.035-04:002010-04-16T02:38:04.780-04:00

"The wonder is that we can see these trees, and not wonder more."-Ralph Waldo Emerson.In corollary, every year while i anticipate and watch the arrival of spring's first plants, I wonder how I can perennially wonder so much.Sightings Sunday and Monday April 11th and 12th:In the woods and forested ravines:carpets - not in bloom but leafed out: trout lily, wild leek, Virginia waterleafcolonies -

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-37640684966996709382010-04-10T03:22:00.011-04:002010-04-15T02:38:33.122-04:00

Sharp-lobed hepaticaon the paler and pinker side of hepatica's white -> periwinkle blue huesphe·nol·o·gy: "phenology has been principally concerned with the dates of first occurrence of biological events in their annual cycle"Here in my garden near the lake in Toronto, Sharp-lobed Hepatica began blooming on April 2nd this year. Wild Ginger blooms began the same day too. The crimson petal

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-81053929867016024102010-04-01T04:45:00.003-04:002010-04-01T12:34:21.835-04:00

Sharp-lobed hepatica reawakening

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-28872018389238465782010-04-01T03:54:00.009-04:002010-04-01T22:25:11.700-04:00

Most of the events I post are related to stewardship and native plant events in the GTA (and a few obvious happy-places of mine in Southwestern Ontario too). But truth is, in the GTA, let alone Southern Ontario, there are a lot more excellent local stewardship and native plant gardening events to discover.TIP: if you're looking for your local stewardship groups and events, try drilling through

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-21831021262242902232010-03-31T14:10:00.020-04:002010-04-26T18:46:15.228-04:00

Quote of the month: The question is not 'can you make a difference?' You already do make a difference. It's just a matter of what kind of difference you want to make, during your life on this planet.– Julia Butterfly Hill Registration open now: Nature Conservancy of Canada Conservation Volunteers program Carden Nature Festival Ontario Nature’s Volunteer for Nature Events (the reptile and

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-60747272848065484102010-03-17T22:21:00.026-04:002011-04-14T13:42:34.103-04:00

Silver Maple female flowers (left) with pollen on themfrom male flowers (right)Silver Maples Acer saccharinum can have both sexes on the same tree. The red flowers in the foreground are female. The "pom-pom" looking flowers on the right are male and loaded with pollen. If you look close (or click on the pic) you can see the male's yellow pollen grains have already been wind blown onto the female

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-7003353104811981352010-02-16T01:03:00.017-05:002010-02-17T04:46:03.005-05:00

My own private "three leaved" Boneset, May 2006This is a Boneset Eupatorium perfoliatum. Really.You've likely seen Boneset before, maybe in a meadow, moist prairie, shoreline, a roadside depression, or perhaps in native plant gardens ...often alongside its Eupatorium cousin Joe-Pye weed in late summer. If so, you already know the most distinguishing characteristic about a Boneset is its

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-43971125532959879722010-02-15T13:14:00.008-05:002010-02-15T14:00:43.885-05:00

A few announcements and upcoming events:Mon, February 22nd, 7:30 PMRare Woody Plants Of Ontario Lambton WildlifeSarnia and AreaSean Fox, Arboretum Manager, University of Guelph Arboretum, will talk about the threatened and endangered trees and shrubs in Ontario, particularly in Southern Ontario. The Arboretum has a number of significant projects, including a mature seed orchard and an extensive

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-63143231904519819972010-02-14T20:29:00.007-05:002010-02-17T04:48:39.732-05:00

For folks interested in how rural agriculture + natural heritage restoration / conservation can support each other, and profitably too, well, i keep directing my out-of-town friends over to the Norfolk Alternative Land Use Service Pilot Project (ALUS).Currently I only know of ALUS in Norfolk County Ontario (as i like to say, "they have a mature stewardship culture there"), but i like to hope ALUS

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-17893579023075006192010-02-14T16:39:00.023-05:002010-02-16T03:55:27.704-05:00

Have you seen this ...? Because...LMAO! i already want to make a poster like this for, well, an AWESOME local White Elm i know -- hey, who can afford an "official plaque" or "didactic panel" these days?i wish i knew who to credit this poster and photo to - it's like a local 'natural heritage appreciation' campaign waiting to go viral ;)

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-59290767347608159002010-02-12T14:06:00.015-05:002010-04-16T10:58:31.890-04:00

The Society for Ecological Restoration – Ontario Chapter (SERO) has just posted revised editions of their Native Plant Buyers and Growers guidelines.For buyers and growers: it's informative and insightful. And for what it's worth, I trust SERO and they've never let me down.For everyone currently struggling for direction, sustainable standards and policy in a changing industry? (And, yes, this is

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-91100149054387288352010-02-11T15:03:00.011-05:002010-02-14T17:05:51.209-05:00

This is a shout out to you U of Guelph Hort Cert. students who've been dropping in lately. Thanks for coming by and hope you're having a blast in your courses!I took the "Naturalized Landscape" course in the Sustainable Landscapes Certificate a few years back. Learned a lot! Still use the materials for reference. Donna Havinga taught it back then. She and Jean Marc-Diagle wrote the text, and

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-41041907019991652372010-01-02T12:29:00.017-05:002010-01-02T17:19:12.549-05:00

1. ...Phragmites? See "Phragmites: Common Reed - Morphological differences between native and introduced genotypes" at Cornell's Biological Control Program 2. ...native American bittersweet vine Celastrus scandens and the invasive exotic oriental bittersweet C. orbiculatus? "Using fruit and leaf characters, the two species can be discriminated from each other. However, certain traits are more

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-18712839232442902882009-12-26T06:17:00.008-05:002009-12-26T06:39:45.379-05:00

Earlier this year, in an Aliens-L list serve post, Randy Westbrooks recommended "Ecological Imperialism: The Biological Expansion of Europe, 900-1900" as "a ‘must read’ for anyone who works on invasive species."So I bought it. Now, I'm nearly finished reading it, and he's right. (But what else would I expect: invasion ecology isn't just science, it's sociology and culture and story, and if

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-24123169695340999372009-12-24T15:20:00.016-05:002009-12-25T05:40:38.713-05:00

"British Novelist Jeanette Winterson commented: They say that every snowflake is different. If that were true, how could the world go on? How could we ever get up off our knees? How could we ever recover from the wonder of it? Though written centuries earlier Francis Bacon has a response: Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-74350708503533528562009-12-23T06:41:00.023-05:002010-01-02T19:52:12.415-05:00

If you even think you're interested, buy it.To find out more please see the book's website.I've just finished collecting some of the later seeds from my Shrubby St. John's-wort (I agree with the book: these are "lovely shrubs ...deserving more use in sunny yards, including edge of pools and stream gardens"), and with them I marked the end of my first year with this book. It has taken me that long

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-58972688932804416692009-12-22T11:20:00.043-05:002010-06-06T19:59:04.210-04:00

Although I've mentioned this book twice before here, apparently I was too subtle about it because folks still email to say "but, you missed Tallamy!"And he is worth mentioning again.Yesterday, a landscaper / urban ecology student friend-of-mine told me "I give this to book clients, and they tell me this book changed my life."...and their plant selections.I can get behind any book that can achieve

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-90252910866714148662009-12-19T10:01:00.022-05:002009-12-20T19:04:59.166-05:00

EVE from WALL·E in deep R&R after a successfulplant "directive" / field season.Merry Solstice to you, and the folks, critters and lands you love + best wishes -- & hope to see you again! -- in field season 2010 :)

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-27710441005536754312009-12-19T06:25:00.012-05:002010-09-20T11:28:22.884-04:00

What is the Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA)? "The PCA is a consortium of ten US federal government Member agencies and over 270 non-federal Cooperators representing various disciplines within the conservation field: biologists, botanists, habitat preservationists, horticulturists, resources management consultants, soil scientists, special interest clubs, non-profit organizations, concerned

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-58071468692187335062009-12-06T02:37:00.059-05:002010-09-20T11:32:38.949-04:00

Mary Gartshore& young Eastern Hognose SnakeKen Stead's in WalsinghamMary's well known in the field as one of the 1st hands to nurture the seeds of what are now millions of restored tallgrass prairie and savannah plants from Windsor to Alderville. You also find her acknowledged and cited in our region's best conservation education, consultation and research. And her farm/nursery/restoration site/

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-24964826049018827232009-12-04T20:59:00.012-05:002009-12-05T17:13:22.248-05:00

These Heart-leaved aster photos by Steve Smith are from mid-November. And although they do seem to go later than the other asters, any blooms after the Gentians and Witch-hazel in October are a gift. Thanks again Steve :)

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-68911553505144959172009-12-04T07:18:00.034-05:002010-02-17T05:18:24.312-05:00

2010 Symposium on Sustainable HorticultureLiving Plants, Liveable Communities February 16-19th, 2010Royal Botanical GardensBurlington, ON Canadian Institute for Sustainable Biodiversity Looks interesting. Check out the timetable. I'm already appreciating that, upfront, the opening keynote address will be "Sustainability in the Built Landscape: Pathway to the Future or Greenwashing at its Worst

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-30590645906563716102009-12-03T00:35:00.015-05:002009-12-22T01:10:00.247-05:00

Just added a few links worth checking out:The ELC manual for Southern Ontario is now free online: Kawartha Conservation has posted the Ecological Land Classification (ELC) Manual for Southern Ontario Manual in PDF and related ELC Training Course linksThe Land Between Report (McMurtry et al. 2008). The final report on fieldwork in selected areas of, well, "The Land Between". I'm still getting used

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-75966851412559366182009-11-21T17:52:00.022-05:002009-12-18T17:39:39.588-05:00

With only 8 days left to vote an idea into the semi-finals, the Aviva Community Fund is getting down-to-wire exciting.Today I'm voting for the Native Plantings at Todmorden Mills.Todmorden Mills Wildflower Preserve is not only worth supporting, but visiting too. You don't just have to take my word for that. When Canadian painter, naturalist and conservation activist Robert Bateman was in Toronto

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-30131875498866900682009-11-16T10:17:00.022-05:002009-12-18T21:50:08.142-05:00

Old sugar maple canopy at Baker's Sugar Bush, VaughnLEAF Tree Tenders TrainingRegister NOWSat Nov 21 10-4Tues Nov 24 5:30-8:15pmSat Nov 28 10-4This 15 hour training program is designed for individuals who want to gain tree-related knowledge and skills. If you’ve always wanted to learn more about how trees work, tree planting and tree care, this is the course for you! Riverdale Library (Broadview

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-13786360033742508972009-11-12T01:58:00.005-05:002009-11-12T02:32:09.976-05:00

... big old oak overlooking a bluff landscape full of bright & burnt autumn oranges, perfectly punctuated by birch trees! Can I nominate mother nature for a design award? :) These are the bluffs closest to Highland Creek (east Scarborough) along Lake Ontario. I love sending pics like these back home, out of pride and, ok, a little bit out of mischief: fun unhinging folks' misconceptions about

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-26145241606494768932009-11-04T18:32:00.010-05:002009-11-17T06:39:46.414-05:00

Had to include a pic of goldenrod because the asters in the pics below looked lonely to me w/o goldenrod buddies.Click through the pic: it's zoomed-in, but otherwise unaltered. I have no idea why it turned out looking more like a painting than a photograph. Looks like brush strokes.Apparently there are 29 goldenrod species in Ontario (32 in Canada), and 'the' book a native plant girl should buy

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-75752989364145750212009-11-02T08:30:00.015-05:002009-11-04T19:30:25.379-05:00

Asters spending ray petals......like ribbon curls. Come autumn, aster and goldenrod ID still march me back to my field guides.My best on this one? Purple-stemmed or swamp aster Symphyotrichum puniceum. var. puniceus, a wonderfully common native species.For online aster ID, try Walter Muma’s Learning Asters in Ontario.

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-27917460312315722432009-10-29T05:11:00.040-04:002010-04-16T11:00:57.824-04:00

Unfortunately I had to miss the Ontario Invasive Plant Council's AGM yesterday :(At the very least, I can mark it with this little PSA:Some invasive plants are no one's fault: I mean, I've never met anyone who cultivates and sells DSV (ok - there are 2 idiots I haven't met who sell it online).And then there are the exotic invasive ornamental horticultural plants that are grown, and sold and

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-46656699550752871352009-10-22T07:18:00.025-04:002010-02-15T13:13:42.704-05:00

Today and tomorrow the Carolinian Canada Coalition is hosting a two-day forum "Caring for Our Coast: Envisioning a Lake Erie Community Stewardship Trail Network"Many of the presentations at this year's forum (located at Pt. Pelee National Park: just a-stone's-throw from where Gerry Waldron recently found a patch of Kudzu) have more of a southwestern ON focus. I once knew the area well, for 25

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-45298586471004915532009-10-17T11:18:00.085-04:002010-10-24T08:08:15.539-04:00

Seed collecting Sky-blue astersSeed Collection Workshop Sun Oct 18 10:30 AMHigh Park Grenadier RestaurantThe High Park Volunteer Stewardship Program has a very special Seed Collection Workshop on October 18th with Gavin Trevelyan, Coordinator for Tallgrass Ontario who will instruct us in the techniques and science behind the efficient and ethical collection of tallgrass prairie plant seed.Spend

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-23431305423399394532009-06-24T00:26:00.012-04:002010-02-17T05:31:30.481-05:00

A few hoice Michigan Stewardship Network webcast archives are free this week only. Just go here. Also notice that all the archived webcasts are free this weekend too.i LOVE these!Try one. If you like it, check out their next free monthly webcast (it's cool to 'see' some of the folks you'll recognize from Southern Ontario restoration ecology and stewardship too!). You can also sign-up online to

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-41079451485001496702009-05-23T11:31:00.042-04:002009-11-18T10:04:47.942-05:00

I was helping someone design a native plant garden on their bare-ass new property. First we figured out her physiography, current and historic land use, and then tried to ID the area's historic natural heritage through historic and current records and surveys. Some times that's all it takes to figure out a site-appropriate native plant community model.Historically her yard was likely a bottom

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-3118896752374953272009-05-22T22:48:00.024-04:002009-10-31T19:17:34.603-04:00

I know next to nothing useful about agriculture, so I can usually resist writing about it.But I recently saw someone cut and regrade their yard's globally endangered forest so they could put in what only amounted to a few square meters of hobby veggie garden beds. It's nothing new but it made me think, wow... there have got to be better agricultural models that would have included that

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-50026392504597904772009-04-29T13:48:00.064-04:002010-04-16T10:35:54.724-04:00

UPDATE APRIL 2010: I've removed 2009's dates to avoid confusion. Find 2010's native plant sales by clicking here.Wild ginger - easy native woodland garden groundcover Red baneberry - another woodland garden stalwart.I like this plant because it's easy, fills out nice, and it's never been a bully. Even cooler? when those red berries are starting to drop, I start squishing some of the other berries

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-3926373209852903362009-04-29T13:02:00.011-04:002009-04-30T19:47:08.039-04:00

Steve Smith - Urban Forest Associates Inc.,Goulding Estate, Taylor Massey CreekAlong with volunteers from FODE and Ontario Nature I recently had a chance to work alongside Steve Smith at a recent tree and shrub planting at Goulding Estate in Taylor Massey Creek, an east lower Don tributary here in Toronto. That day was a lot of cool riparian woody and his smart range of plants and

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-14507718263346175472009-04-29T10:41:00.007-04:002009-04-30T17:45:49.822-04:00

Not just the couple/few thousand new tasty young trees and shrubs either. I bet he appreciates how we broke up that insane clay to expose so many yummy weed roots & rhizomes, because that's what he really seemed intent to chew on. :)*Tree guard tip: we handled the tree guards (yup those white coiled plastic things) a little different on this site. Because of the voles, we screwed the guards

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-6315227069531429912009-04-15T06:34:00.010-04:002010-09-20T11:38:52.588-04:00

Native plant garden beds at the Brick Works

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-23462464678642260772009-03-18T14:34:00.050-04:002010-10-24T08:09:14.088-04:00

I missed Dr. Nina Katalin Barabas's presentation on medicinal native plants at the North American Native Plant Society's Winter Speakers series last night. Too bad because they've all been so good. (BTW: thank Paul Heydon at Grow Wild! for that line-up.) I didn't realize that, besides already being a great newsletter and plant sale, NANPS could pull off a great public speaker series too. High

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-85570433978682272232009-03-14T02:56:00.013-04:002010-10-24T08:11:54.590-04:00

Lots of events, and it's not even planting season yet!Reminder: Several of the following events require pre-registration if possible, pls RSVP: confirms the event date and place, and lets folks know you're coming so they don't accidentally cancel because of "lack of interest."I've posted other "Announcements" (including training and some upcoming AGMs and conferences) in a seperate post right

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-44432675261382045062009-03-14T00:38:00.013-04:002009-03-16T11:36:34.368-04:00

So many spring email newsletters flying around; announcements migrating through my inbox. Here are a few of them:Training opportunities:LEAF's Tree Tenders Training Program, Spring 2009. April Sessions are full, you might still have chance for MayVolunteer for Nature Leadership Training Course, April 4 & 5, 9AM. See Ontario Nature's Volunteer for Nature 2009 schedule. This two-day training

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-85679892042844496742009-03-13T13:48:00.004-04:002009-03-21T05:18:46.479-04:00

Wal-Mart – Evergreen Green Grants ProgramDeadline: March 27, 2009Evergreen Common Grounds is accepting applications for this Wal-Mart sponsored and Evergreen led "Green Grants" Program supporting community environmental restoration projects. Green Grants provide funds of up to $10,000 to local community groups working on urban naturalization projects focused on the restoration and stewardship

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-62443440370398596562009-02-24T12:15:00.006-05:002010-10-24T08:14:39.180-04:00

Head's up! Register or apply now for:LEAF's Tree Tenders Training Program, Spring 2009Carden Nature Festival activities, June 5th-7th 2009. If this festival or the Carden Plains and alvars are new to you, pls see this post from last year.Ontario Nature's Volunteer for Nature Events & Field Trips 2009Evergreen volunteer openings for Online Native Plant Database Reviewer and Community Greening

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-10529798640382211892009-02-24T11:32:00.022-05:002010-04-16T11:02:36.122-04:00

I honestly do not know why some plants are even legal to sell and profit from.Got this in a newsletter today. The bolding's my own.Longer Marketing Time Increases the Risk of Naturalization by Horticultural Plants - By Stephanie Yao, Agricultural Research Service, USDA. February 24, 2009"...Unlike previous studies on the invasiveness of horticultural plants, the research team found that the

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-68787978069828980022008-12-23T18:05:00.026-05:002009-01-14T03:48:26.571-05:00

Winter just officially arrived two days ago, with 30+cms of recent snow and -23C windchills, so I know it takes a little faith and optimism to celebrate that our patch of the planet really has begun returning toward the sun. But, yes, it's true: field season 2009 has just been conceived!And here in Toronto, today, December 23rd, is the first day we'll see an extra minute of sunlight:Solstice

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-12800431782405428022008-10-22T12:08:00.010-04:002008-10-22T14:31:40.642-04:00

The Tangled Garden - J.E.H. MacDonaldIn autumn, a lot of gardens around the city remind me of this painting. It is especially evoked for me when I see the humongous sunflowers (still standing!) at the Children’s /Veggie Garden at the Brick Works. (The squirrels in my neighbourhood would've feasted on those weeks ago!)Makes sense that I see these scenes around the GTA since the painting is from a

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-91872065282405918052008-10-15T12:50:00.011-04:002010-10-24T08:15:50.069-04:00

Oct 16: Ontario Urban Forest Council's workshop and AGM at the Toronto Botanical Gardens Sat Oct 18, 12-4PM - NANPS AGM and Native Plant Sale. This year’s theme is “The Role of Plants in Water Conservation.” Toronto Botanical Gardens Sun Oct 19, 11-1PM - Wildlfower Seed Collecting and stewardship, Evergreen Brick Works Sun Oct 19, 10:30 - Seed collecting, fence repair and trail work with the

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-63593584296991861462008-10-13T12:11:00.033-04:002010-09-20T11:43:42.736-04:00

The Ontario Invasive Plant Council's 2008 Annual General Meeting is Wednesday November 5th in Barrie.The OIPC meeting comes on the heels of the Biology and Biological Control of Established Invasive Plants in Canada Conference in Ottawa this upcoming Saturday October 18. So I expect information will trickle down from there too.Ecosystems are not only more complex than we think, but more complex

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-3309810614244812942008-07-27T12:13:00.018-04:002008-10-08T14:04:51.451-04:00

This one's for the good folks who came out to Evergreen's "Weeds 101 Workshop" at the Brick Works today.the main invasive plant management strategy recommended in the workshop was: "Recognize. Remove. Dispose. Remediate. Replant. Return." Read more about it here most of the invasive plant resources mentioned in the workshop are posted here Dog-Strangling Vine (DSV) merits its own postwe also

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-36589478326879264842008-05-26T12:19:00.021-04:002010-10-24T08:17:21.612-04:00

Rare Plants of the Endangered High Park Black Oak Savannah: A Volunteer Stewardship Program Guidebook. High Park Community Advisory Council (HPCAC) and HPCAC Volunteer Stewardship Program. Toronto, Ontario: High Park Initiatives, 2008. 64pp. $15. I’m trying to write a book review, but what I keep coming up with is a love letter. This blog has tried to suss-out a few resources about High

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-58626539234979737542008-05-26T12:18:00.007-04:002008-10-08T14:14:42.622-04:00

A Guide to Toronto's Pollinators by Laurence Packer, York University, and Toronto Plant Guide for Attracting Pollinators by Victoria MacPhail. Each are free online, or you can order them in hard copy for $5 each. PS- Thanks to the Toronto Botanical Garden Library blog for the heads up.

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-63678565948662327842008-04-29T18:37:00.007-04:002008-05-28T05:26:18.286-04:00

This 11 hour training program is designed for individuals who want to gain tree-related knowledge and skills. If you have had some experience at tree planting or gardening, but want more in-depth training, this series is for you! Only $35.00 plus GST for all three sessions. Details on the program and to register.This was just announced today. If you're into it, SIGN UP NOW because it fills super

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-12287821940647039042008-04-27T03:34:00.023-04:002008-04-29T13:10:06.338-04:00

jewel weed"My first adult experiment in seed starting involved an innocent-looking packet of "Heavenly Blue" morning glories. ...the seeds started to sprout. ...I decided that somehow ...I had gotten it all wrong, and the little dummies were growing upside down. ...And so I spent the afternoon inverting my morning glories." - Lorraine Johnsonbecoming a lady bugMe? A few years ago in a late spring

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-1714001187508217902008-04-26T02:44:00.039-04:002009-12-03T00:48:16.906-05:00

UPDATE, 2009:Kawartha Conservation has posted the Ecological Land Classification for Southern Ontario Manual (in PDF) and related ELC Training Course links*ELC training will be at Fleming College (near Peterborough) from June 23 to June 27, 2008. To request the 2008 brochure or to register (only 20 spots), email Suzanne Gitto at sgitto@gartnerlee.com. Last year’s brochure is online. The 5 day

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-22601049554017952702008-04-05T05:18:00.057-04:002010-10-24T08:18:49.074-04:00

Planting tallgrass prairie demo beds at the Brick Works. Photo by Emma RooneySummer Stewardship season 2008. Ahhhh... even my trowel is smiling. All I can say is, if you haven't done it, do it! It's a blast and a great way to learn about native plants, naturalization, restoration and local ecology.The best way to get in on it? Come out to the City of Toronto's Community Stewardship program's

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-59719957297452265192008-04-02T14:36:00.036-04:002010-09-20T11:49:34.938-04:00

Beavers, opossums, deer, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, skunks, mink, porcupines, ground hogs, bats, turtles, snakes, frogs, fireflies, owls, golden eagles, white pelicans and 300+ more bird species … yup, all here in the city of Toronto, just trying to stay alive and keep a home, like you and me. Yesterday we saw our first baby raccoons this season. It’ll be awhile yet before we come across

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-85213816584012936202008-03-23T06:40:00.010-04:002010-09-20T11:45:56.854-04:00

Waterfront Toronto and the TRCA presented the latest design at a well attended public meeting and discussion last Saturday morning.Quick notes:Time line reality check: naturalizing the bottom of the Don has already been a 17 year long project for some, and implementation is currently forecast at 2010->2035.If it happens at all.While all three levels of gov't have already committed $65 million to

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-37643800735145982702008-03-22T14:30:00.015-04:002008-05-02T15:00:57.674-04:00

The cover story of the current issue of Ontario Nature magazine is a collection of articles profiling a few of the endangered ecosystems in southern and central Ontario. They've published all these articles on their site including Carolinian Zone and A Garden Of Rarities (the Ojibway Prairie Complex) by Lorraine Johnson, and Alvars and Wetlands by Andrea Smit.Also, consider this from the Ruthven

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-14365792700615650072008-03-21T13:51:00.013-04:002008-03-22T13:44:40.668-04:00

"Spring this year couldn't come too soon—and it didn't. It took its time-melting at its own pace, over running ice—blocked sewer drains, swelling the Humber River and the Don River stretching to the lake. The sound of the city was of trickling water. Have you ever smelled this city at the beginning of spring? Dead winter circling still, it smells of eagerness and embarrassment and, most of all,

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-86702422507515170622008-03-21T13:30:00.026-04:002010-09-20T11:47:23.049-04:00

...though still not without its gracesand refuge. This winter I spent an unwholesome amount of time trying to understand / cope with invasives, and my own weariness and niaveté. Reminds me of a few quotes:"One of the penalties of an ecological education is that one lives alone in a world of wounds. Much of the damage inflicted on the land is quite invisible to laymen." - Aldo Leopold, A

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-76745180045947035532008-03-03T05:38:00.049-05:002010-10-24T08:01:46.712-04:00

"We stand to lose our natural ecosystem, all our native plants, everywhere in the Great Lakes Basin and southern Ontario.” - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Ecologist Waysel Bakowsky, when asked about the threat of DSV.Dog-Strangling Vine is a highly invasive perennial vine that dominates and destroys ecosystems.If you see this plant on your property, or your local park or community garden,

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-12740026169602024252008-02-17T10:29:00.005-05:002008-02-17T10:37:43.184-05:00

Come hear local invasive species experts talk about the impact of dog-strangling vine on natural areas in our community and learn about natural methods of eradicating it.When: Friday Feb 29, 2008, 12:30->3:30Where: Miller Lash House, U of T Scarbourough Campus, mapWho: Everyone Welcome, Free Admissionmore info

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-44687748887710989652008-01-31T03:08:00.001-05:002008-03-03T06:30:15.557-05:00

Ladies'-tresses orchids, the Port Lands, TorontoThere are some easily definable remnant native landscapes in Toronto: Fresh Water DunesBeach BarsOak Savannah and Tallgrass prairieUpland and lowland deciduous and mixed forests and swampsRavines BluffsFreshwater wetlands Watershed valleys corridors, riparian river and stream banksBut after that, I often see many of our urban natural areas described

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-74036517010418266412008-01-07T16:35:00.004-05:002009-12-18T19:02:41.252-05:00

The New Ontario Naturalized Garden by Lorraine Johnson is still the first book I still recommend to anyone interested in native plant gardening in Ontario. It’s invaluable, no comparison.Today, trying to buy a copy online, most of the regular prices clicked-through as “sold out”. You can still find new copies here, with prices varying from $19 to $319(!)Quite likely there are also still pockets

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-26799759556316658162007-12-31T12:15:00.003-05:002008-04-27T02:14:53.986-04:00

Wow. This is like finding out there's a southern hemisphere.Until I read this book, most of what little soil science and "chemistry" (e.g. over simplified "N-Ph-P" and how-to-alter-your-pH advice) that I had hodge-podged together over the years floated around my mind in scatter-shot unlinked fragments. A lot of it I took more on faith than real understanding, and I also often didn't know

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-51519968071665752012007-12-31T11:26:00.003-05:002008-04-27T02:16:25.267-04:00

In an earlier post about the upcoming roof gardening conference here in Toronto, I mentioned that Mathis Natvik from Natvik Ecological will be speaking about his urban green roof designs composed of regionally appropriate native plant communities including alvars, sand dune, prairie, oak savannah, cliff face and even wetland species. I neglected to mention that Natvik is also the pioneer of “

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-46308470168465110632007-12-21T17:49:00.000-05:002008-01-16T15:35:25.749-05:00

Christmas Fern Polystichum acrostichoidesYou know how some years you seem to only be seeing what you've already seen and using the same skills you already knew the year before, but, then, other years your awareness grows like, well, a seed bed of bergamot and tall-yellow-composites?Well, I've just had a TYC kind of year. Only because I met of a lot of good native plant folks who taught, inspired

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-24408758314818601032007-12-09T18:31:00.005-05:002010-09-20T11:51:02.559-04:00

photo by Martha MacyThe only elm tree I’ve ever seen is the American Elm in front of the Manulife Insurance building on Bloor Street. I have to admit, it's an impressive and elegant bit of marketing for an insurance company. The tree was planted in 1934 and Dutch elm disease hit Ontario in the 60's, so I don't know how they've pulled it off; although when it came up at a LEAF workshop, I heard

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-84658837342241225562007-12-06T10:59:00.000-05:002007-12-06T20:05:30.715-05:00

It was reported in North York, at Shepherd & the 403.Here's a Q&A from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.It was also recently found in Norfolk County at Turkey Point too: "Norfolk County boasts about 27 per cent forest cover and 15 to 20 per cent of its trees are ash trees... (including) the rare blue ash and pumpkin ash that is only found in Norfolk County in Ontario."Note: The Emerald Ash

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-52429152443539032582007-12-05T18:00:00.001-05:002009-02-17T11:13:02.096-05:00

Prairie Smoke Hairy Beard Tongue Juniper & Balsam Ragwort limestone pavement & Smooth Wild Rose Indian Paintbrush and Balsam RagwortIf an alvar invites you over for a visit, you

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-88034198037045238522007-12-05T17:30:00.002-05:002008-04-13T03:51:48.549-04:00

Honestly, it's too expensive for me (and so far, for everyone else I know too). Guess we'll have to wait for it to trickle down into a book or a workshop. Luckily however inspiration is free: on the speakers list I noticed Mathis Natvik from Natvik Ecological. Get this - he designs urban green roofs with native plant communities from Great Lakes Region habitats, including sand dune, oak savannah

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-5994415237715257522007-12-05T15:03:00.001-05:002008-04-04T04:40:16.004-04:00

Want to know about any of the many naturalization plans currently floating around Toronto's waterfront?1. Go to this Toronto Region Conservation Authority's site and click through the waterfront area you're interested in: East, Central or West Toronto - there are plans along the length of GTA lake front.2. Often the Waterfront Toronto corporation (formerly the Toronto Waterfront Redevelopment

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-6214968813886799722007-11-17T14:55:00.001-05:002008-05-28T06:40:48.042-04:00

MULCH.Weirdly this was not initially intuitive to me. Instead I tried solomon's seal, wild strawberry, ginger, violets ... even mints. Then one day I realized: this tree wants me to FEED it. And there began the mulch pile. I occasionally rake it, keep it clean (errant dog poop, odd bits of litter) & of course, I leave some space around the bottom of the trunk so it won't rot.I've gone this route

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-36260584854660430952007-11-14T09:58:00.001-05:002008-02-25T04:39:11.280-05:00

An excellent article about Toronto's urban forest by LEAF's Todd Irvine appeared last Sunday in the Toronto Star. Excerpted from greenTOpia: Towards a Sustainable Toronto Vol.3*"Carolinian Canada" is a big place. A lot of plants are actually very regionally specific. For example Redbud is only really native down near Point Pelee, and Winged Sumach only occurs in Norfolk and Prince Edward

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-72104482774880254652007-10-07T14:08:00.017-04:002010-09-20T11:53:13.571-04:00

“The first rule of intelligent tinkering is to keep all the pieces.” - Aldo Leopold"Invasive species are the second biggest threat to wildlife and plants worldwide. Habitat destruction is the first." - E.O. Wilson And that is why I've made this list of invasive plant resources. I hope you find it useful too.Toronto and Ontario invasive plant information: Ontario Invasive Plant Council

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-42684432305732245742007-10-03T03:31:00.003-04:002009-12-18T21:56:14.972-05:00

Doubled booked:Carolinian Canada Coalition Forum"Impacts of climate change on southwestern Ontario's unique natural features …and best management practices for an uncertain future." Followed by their AGM & Lorraine Johnson’s “Natural Treasures” book release.and Inaugural General Meeting of the Ontario Council on Terrestrial Invasive Plant Species"Speaking with One Voice"Royal Botanical Gardens

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-21484157574986509812007-09-12T06:39:00.000-04:002007-12-15T12:19:06.872-05:00

Trees are good -- this you already know, but it takes a little learning to know how to be good back to them. Growing trees in cities is another set of skills too. Luckily here in Toronto we have the good folks at LEAF to walk us through it all!If you aren't already a fan of this non-profit, local, grassroots, urban forest advocacy group, check out the LEAF site. Not-to-be-missed: their Tree

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-51860026612859486032007-09-10T13:43:00.000-04:002007-09-10T19:41:25.512-04:00

Guerrilla Gardening: A Manualfesto by David Tracey. New Society Publishers, 2007 “...Guerrilla gardening can be summarily defined as gardening in public urban spaces with or without permission. Gardening by the citizens .. In his excellent manualfesto – both political and practical as the name implies — Tracey traces the history of this movement … he advocates organized group action …offers

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-46914649637713411822007-09-10T11:46:00.000-04:002007-12-15T12:20:04.469-05:00

Download Evergreen Brick Works great new trail map by Marlena Zuber

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-85541084445287673082007-09-08T18:28:00.001-04:002008-04-13T03:49:19.611-04:00

Photo by P.D. Pratt Article from Treehugger:"…Researchers at the University of Northern Iowa's Tallgrass Prairie Center (TPC) are looking at ways to use the state's mixed prairie plantings as a source of renewable energy — as biomass to produce ethanol or to burn for electricity… A study conducted this past year by David Tilman, an ecology professor at the University of Minnesota, had

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7773335929685893261.post-74132908973725514352007-09-08T18:27:00.001-04:002008-04-13T04:08:32.293-04:00

Want to know about southern Ontario native prairies, restoration & stewardship? Tallgrass Ontario is the first place to go!Planting the Seed: A guide to Establishing Prairie and Meadow Communities in Southern OntarioFormer prairie locations and existing remnants in Toronto, check out the map on Page 6 of this High Park restoration management report and its

native plant girlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14027778847857950326noreply@blogger.com0