Gardening: Small choices make a big difference
Megachile (leafcutter, mortar, and resin) bee on swamp milkweed (Photo by Sarah Ludlow)
Well, it is that time of year again — when the hope of spring and warmer temperatures is edging ever closer, especially in my home province of Saskatchewan. It is also the time when I begin starting my seeds to plant in my garden this...
Spotting the spotted wintergreen: Research on rare woodland plants in Ontario
A tagged spotted wintergreen plant (Photo by Amy Wiedenfeld/NCC staff)
As summer approaches, I look forward to getting out into the field. This includes visiting many of the spotted wintergreen populations in Ontario for my PhD research, supported by the Weston Family Conservation Science Fellowship Program. Spotted...
Walking the walk at the Milburn Creek Nature Reserve
Milburn Creek tile mosaic by Sharon Freeman (Photo by Jennifer Gagne)
This is my 10th year living in Battersea, Ontario, and I have walked the nearby Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) trail around Milburn Creek many times, passing through woods and meadow, and stopping to admire granite outcroppings, the meandering...
Collaborating for conservation
The cutting crew, comprised of staff from NCC, Georgian Bay Forever, Parks Canada, and the Severn Sound Environmental Association (Photo by Carolyn Davies/NCC Staff)
The natural world really is incredible. Spending time in it is a continual process of discovery, which is great for someone like me who is a life-long learner. For the past year and half at the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), I’ve had...
Finding fantastic finches during February’s Great Backyard Bird Count
Pine grosbeak in winter (Photo by Sean Feagan/NCC Staff)
Some people relish raptors. Others prefer partridges. Me, I’m a songbird guy. At this time of the year, my favourite birds, neotropical migrants like our wood warblers, vireos and flycatchers, have left us for warmer locales — and who...
Working landscapes, conservation and COP28: my takeaways
A wooden panel describing the importance of building soil carbon (Photo by NCC)
As the manager of agriculture policy for the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), I went to COP28 to understand how agriculture and ranching contribute solutions to the climate crisis. Here’s what I learned: ⚡️ The ambition is...
Nature writing prompts to spark creativity and connection
A keepsake journal for writing down experiences in nature (Photo by Wendy Ho/NCC staff)
Connecting with nature can come in many forms. For some, it may be taking a walk and listening to the rustling of leaves, or the crunching of snow underfoot. For others, a creative outlet like art, music and rhythmic movement allows them to...
Top 5 things I learned at COP28
Rob Wilson and other panelists at the Grasslands and Canadian Livestock: Solutions from the Ground Up event at COP28 (Photo by Melanie Bos/NCC)
As NCC’s director of conservation finance, I went to COP28 to learn how the world can fund climate change solutions, and to share about how we are building partnerships across the country to support nature and climate goals through...
Sharing a quiet forest with a Canada lynx
Canada lynx (Photo by Mike Dembeck)
Sitting for hours inside a cramped, cold blind waiting for wildlife doesn't sound exciting — but it is. Being able to observe animals in their natural surroundings isn't just a thrill, it's a passion, and one that doesn't come easy and is...
The joy of doing nothing, except hanging out with puffins
Île aux Perroquets and the historic lighthouse. (Photo courtesy of Quincin Chan)
This blog was written by Wendy Ho as told by Quincin Chan The St. Lawrence River holds a special place in my heart. It was part of my three-week honeymoon camping road trip in Quebec years ago. Fast forward seven years and two kids later, we took...
