2023 Speakers
March 20, 2023
Allendria Brunjes, Acting External Relations Manager, Rouge National Urban Park
What's New At The Rouge National Urban Park
Rouge National Urban Park is a national urban park in Ontario, Canada. The park is centred around the Rouge River and its tributaries in the Greater Toronto Area. The southern portion of the park is situated around the mouth of river in Toronto, and extends northwards into Markham, Pickering, Uxbridge, and Whitchurch-Stouffville.
April 17, 2023
Michael J. McTavish - PhD, B.Sc. (Hons.)
Controlling Invasives
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, S.M. Smith Forest Health Lab
Institute of Forestry and Conservation, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design
Dr. Michael J. McTavish is a postdoctoral research fellow working with the Smith Forest Health Lab at the University of Toronto. His ongoing research examines the implications of ecological novelty and invasion for restoration, the ecology of non-native earthworms, and biological control of weeds including introduced Phragmites and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).
May 15, 2023
Dugald Cameron
Spring Flowering Bulbs
My gardening career began at an early age in my English Grandmother's garden where I'd occasionally help out with weeding & digging. I must have "caught the bug" then, because I've been interested in plants and gardens ever since. My wife Lynn Pashleigh, Father and I started Gardenimport, a mail order nursery in 1983 because we couldn't find the quality or selection of plants we wanted for our gardens. Offering a top quality selection of the latest seeds, flower bulbs and plants to Canadian gardeners from a catalogue and website. After 32 years of business Gardenimport was closed in 2014.
June 19, 2023
Julia Dimakos
Succession Planting and will be selling and signing books
Each year that I garden, I learn more and find easier ways to do things. I believe in simple gardening. It’s something that should not be stressful or scary. Mistakes are learning experiences to do things better the following year. I believe gardening is fun and relaxing, although physically challenging, at times. But the results are satisfying. My gardening tips are for all gardening levels, beginner to advanced and I hope my tips will provide knowledge and inspiration to all levels of experience.
July 17, 2023
Kathy Vatcher
Introduction to Mushrooms
I love to take people on mushroom forays, walks and talks in the woods. I’ve been leading and co-leading forays for the Mycological Society for the last few years and have taken over teaching the mushroom ID course there. I’ve given talks, walks and workshops at the Kortwright Conservation Centre and Rouge National Park here in Toronto and led fungi collection walks at Bioblitzs. I have a passion for fungi and love to share what I’ve learned with others. I’ve been a keen forager, know my edibles and enjoy cooking with them. I am interested in medicinals too and regularly use Chaga and Turkey-tail that I collect.