All Podcast Episodes

Ep.93: Botantical chalking

Jason Ramsay-Brown talks about botanical chalking: what it is, how it started, and its powerful possibilities increase awareness of nature.

Contributor:
Jason Ramsay-Brown
Ep.92: Ferns
Episodes Title

Bruce Thompson discusses the prehistoric origin of ferns, their unique reproduction strategy, and preferred places to grow.

Contributor:
Bruce Thompson
Ep.91: Manitoba Maples
Episodes Title

Richard Partington talks about Manitoba Maples: how they contrast in look and use from other maples, and where to find them in Toronto.

Contributor:
Richard Partington
Ep.90: Gypsy Moths
Episodes Title

Anne Purvis discusses the Gypsy Moth, its life-cycle, and the impact of its defoliation of trees, especially oaks. A non-native, it has no natural predators and various methods of control are described.

Contributor:
Anne Purvis
Ep.89: Freshwater mussels

Mary-Kate Whibbs describes native freshwater mussels and the role of fish in reproduction, and compares them with non-native Zebra and Quagga mussels.

Contributor:
Mary-Kate Whibbs
Ep.88: Painted Lady butterfly

Bruce Thompson describes Painted Lady Butterflies, where to see them and their impressive migration!

Contributor:
Bruce Thompson
Ep.87: Scientific names

Sophie Breitbart discusses scientific names "binomial nomenclature", the long history of classifying organisms, the impact of the scientist Linnaeus, and origins of names. from Latin, Greek and Indigenous languages.

Contributor:
Sophie Breibart
Ep.86: Community gardens

Jonathan Harris describes the importance and many uses of community gardens, where to find one or how to start one..

Contributor:
Jonathan Harris
Ep.85: Butterfly counts

John Carley talks about the Toronto Centre Butterfly Count begun in 1995 and its results, how counts are conducted, and how you can get involved.

Contributor:
John Carley
Ep.84: Elderberries
Episodes Title

Ellen Schwartzel describes the native American Elderberry shrub, its cultural and medicinal significance, and its star turn in the 1944 movie "Arsenic and Old Lace".

Contributor:
Ellen Schwartzel
Ep.83: Northern Cardinals

Bruce Thompson identifies the Northern Cardinal, their relationships, when/where to see them and why they’re a successful species despite many predators.

Contributor:
Bruce Thompson
Ep.82: Conservationist John Muir

Nancy Dengler describes how a young American, John Muir, came to 1860s Ontario and documented nature in central and southern areas. After returning to the U.S. in 1867, he eventually became America's most influential naturalist and conservationist.

Contributor:
Nancy Dengler
Ep.81: Laurentian Channel

Paul Overy describes the origin and history of the Laurentian Channel from prehistoric to present time, its accidental discovery in 2003 and need for stewardship.

Contributor:
Paul Overy
Ep.80: Cottonwood Trees

Richard Partington talks about Cottonwood Trees: what they look like, where they grow, and the use of their aromatic resin.

Contributor:
Richard Partington
Ep.79: Warblers
Episodes Title

Ellen Schwartzel describes the difficulty of identifying different warblers, their long migrations, and when and where to see them in the GTA.

Contributor:
Ellen Schwartzel
Ep.78: Kentucky Coffee-Tree

Jon Harris describes the Kentucky Coffee-tree and its unique seed pods.and leaves, where it is found, and reproductive challenges.

Contributor:
Jon Harris
Ep.77: Fire Ants
Episodes Title

Bruce Thompson describes the invasive and agressive European Fire Ant, its sting, its large colonies, and its harmful effects on native ant species and ecosystems.

Contributor:
Bruce Thompson
Ep.76: Monarch life-cycle and research

Betty McCulloch talks about the life cycle of the Monarch Butterfly, data collected through butterfly tagging at Rosetta McClain Gardens, and how to assist their survival.

Contributor:
Betty McCulloch
Ep.75: Terraview and Willowfield Gardens parks

Jason Ramsay-Brown talks about the renaturalization of Terraview and Willowfield Gardens parks from their former status as 401 run-off ponds and the need of improve the downstream Taylor-Massey Creek.

Contributor:
Jason Ramsay-Brown
Ep.74: Stewardship
Episodes Title

Paula Davies talks about the meaning of stewardship and how to get involved. The story of the Oak Ridges Moraine illustrates the challenges faced by stewards.

Contributor:
Paula Davies