The Garden Shift

You may remember Douglas from Season 2. His storm infiltration boulevard in Etobicoke is well documented. Douglas joins to continue the conversation about all the critters who visit this garden space- grasshoppers, damselflies, wasps, bees and birds to name a handful few. We talk about how creating a garden is an opportunity to watch a dynamic ecosystem and learn about all the associations between insects and plants. Douglas is a Project Swallowtail Ambassador and gives free tours of his garden. He is also a native plant propagator, growing over 50 species at his home. Spacing Article, Trent Weston Subscribe to Project Swallowtail's newsletter and learn more: projectswallowtail.ca Contact Douglas: dcu.humanature@rogers.com Resources: bugguide.net Heather Holm https://www.pollinatorsnativeplants.com/ https://www.wildplantsfromseed.com/

Season 2 closes with Kirstin Hicks of Tidal & Timber Studio -she brings the flora and fauna of coastal and boreal landscapes closer to home through her art. Working in Thunder Bay she has spent much of her professional career in natural resource management. Inspired by the forests of Northern Ontario, Lake Superior and nature walks with her field golden retriever- her art communicates an intimate understanding of her place. Kirstin is soaking up the short summer season vibe, taking care of her rain garden and working on her next handmade item that highlights the species she loves- vascular plants. Tidal & Timber Studio Whispers From the North EcoSuperior Follow The Garden Shift on Instagram @the_garden_shift, and thegardenshift.com Special thanks to my people: Victoria/creative design @saltwater.agency Luke/music @lukeottenhof Master Gardener advisors: Pat Concessi, Tena van Andel & Dianne Azzarello Season 3 will land in September. Happy Summer and thanks for being eco guardians

This episode was first shared in Season One. It's one of my favorites because it's filled with good advice. Lorraine wants you to get started right where you are. Small changes in your garden can bring big results. Host plants for birds, allowing diversity of species in your lawn, planting up a hellstrip, it's all about reconciling with nature. Enjoy this jam packed episode and Lorraine's story about Sneezy (Disney) and his relationship to goldenrod. lorrainejohnson.ca https://www.rewildingmag.com/author/lorraine-johnson/

Are you a cottage owner, conservation practitioner, or lake association? Laura Thomas, owner of Hidden Habitat wants you to grow the right native plant in the right place. Visit her at the nursery and she will show you how. We talk about shoreline seed mixes, seed orchards and plant sex. Hidden Habitat Muskoka Conservancy

Can this be the year your meadow dreams come true? New Directions in American Landscapes Designer Larry Weaner has wise words for gardeners who dream of a meadow "By understanding nature’s next ‘move’... we are better able to make intelligent decisions resulting in less maintenance requirements and a more successful end result". In this episode Toronto Master Gardener Tena van Andel will share her personal experiences with growing meadows. We talk ecological succession, site prep, invasive species, plant choices, seed mixes and 'meadows in a can'. Tena tells a personal story about Wildflower Farm and owners Miriam and Paul. Is it easy? Can anyone do it? Let's just say dream big , plan well and a piece of meadow can be yours. The Meadoway The New Ontario Naturalized Garden , Lorraine Johnson Larry Weaner-New Directions in American Landscapes Wildflower Farm

The Garden Shift invited Pat Concessi for an impromptu chat-between gardening friends. Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis), Large-Leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla) and Golden Alexander (Zizea aurea) are all making an appearance.

Ewa Bednarczuk knows habitats, she worked on prairies, forests, woodlands and wetlands across Ontario. Now with her online course you can learn to restore and do your part in your own yard. We talk about the lessons, Q & A Hub and community support that will make you a restorer of habitat. Ewa knows soil, plants and interactions and wants you to be a force for good. Neighbourhood Habitat Soil Food Web School Kneep Wildland Rewilding Project

The Paw Paw tree, Asimina triloba, is a Carolinian tree that needs our attention. Perfect for a home or community garden, this tree has suffered habitat loss and may be further suffering from bad public relations. In this episode The Garden Shift welcomes Dan Bissonnette - he talks ecological importance of this native species. We learn how to grow from seed and what this tree needs to produce delicious fruit. Order Manual-Contact Dan- dannaturescape@gmail.com TVO Article Lorraine Johnson's Post Windsor Star Article

You may know Sayeh Beheshti from Underhill Seed Sitters, Don't Mess With the Don or North American Native Plant Society. In this episode, hosted by Pat Concessi they talk about the gift economy and how society improves when we give our time to those in need. Sayeh shares her garden with all the creatures that have been there long before she started gardening. Learn about nature journaling, back yard bee projects, The Garden Fun club and many more of her personal initiatives. Underhill Seed Sitters The Garden Fun Club Nature Journaling

Mosquito fogging, cooking fiddleheads, arsenic and more. Join my guest Dianne Azzarello for an insightful look at the potential risk associated with natural elements, in our gardens. Dianne has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 38 years. Xerces Study- Mosquito Fogging Mosquito Bucket Health Canada- Food Safety for Fiddleheads Using Pesticides in Ontario Silent Spring, Rachel Carson

The RHS is the UK's leading gardening charity- founded in 1804. In this episode we are joined by Leigh Hunt. Leigh is the Principal Horticultural Advisor at Wisley Garden where he works with over 150 scientists to help deliver gardening advice to their members. We talk about Bringing Nature Home Initiative (2026), Jennifer Owens' 30 year bug study, resilience in plants, primroses, slugs, hedgehogs and more. RHS Bringing Nature Home Jennifer Owens Garden Study Ken Thomson, Ecologist

Learn about agroecology and growing seed crops with my guest, seed farmer and author Dan Brisebois. We talk about 'First Seed Mindset' and building a relationship with a plant. What species make a good seed crop, will there be cross pollination, what's a F1 seed, don't be afraid of Brassicas, and lots of vegetable tips will be shared. Ferme Tourne-Sol Co-Op The Seed Farmer , New Society Publisher, 2025 Planting Guides

Junaid is an ecologist who knows nature can heal. His journey starts in Pakistan where nature was always somewhere else. Moving to Canada and now living in Peterborough he sought out a connection to the land through both traditional indigenous learning and alliances with community groups and organizations. Junaid reflects "I see my work is to weave together people's understanding of what it is to be part of nature so we can heal ourselves and each other" https://www.truecology.ca/ The National Observer Let Junaid Shahzad Khan Help you Work on Your Relationship With the Land https://www.nationalobserver.com/2021/11/08/news/let-junaid-shahzad-khan-help-you-work-your-relationship-land Colla Conservation Science Lab https://www.savethebumblebees.ca/ https://www.creatorsgardenmarket.ca/ https://outdoorlearning.com/product/anishinaabe-bird-names/

Would you like to collaborate with a team of volunteers while enjoying some nature therapy? Toronto Nature Stewards may be the organization for you. Pat Concessi is a caring citizen and she wants you to get to know the ravines. Learn why some plants are harmful in the ravine ecosystem and need to be removed, what species may appear in your garden and how to identify , remove and dispose them. https://torontonaturestewards.org/ Garlic Mustard https://www.ontario.ca/page/garlic-mustard Ontario Invasive Plant Council https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/ Grow Me Instead https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/resources/grow-me-instead/

Fatal Light Awareness Program (FLAP) Canada is a registered Canadian charity widely recognized as the pre-eminent authority on the bird-building collision issue. Millions of birds die every year from collisions with windows. What can we do to safeguard birds in our yards. Michael discusses option for our windows and placement of our bird feeders. https://flap.org/ Global Bird Collision Mapper https://www.birdmapper.org/

Joanna Dyer is teaching her young family to love bees and bugs, removing invasive plants, experimenting with garden techniques like dead hedges and seed snails and growing new species at every opportunity. Her Shift is happening at a racing pace in her garden in Hamilton, Ontario. Follow Joanna on Instagram: the_native_gardening_novice Order Wild Ginger -Ontario Native Plant: https://onplants.ca/shop/asarum-canadense/ Remove Periwinkle: https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/invasive-plants/species/periwinkle/

Victoria Badham joins today from the Toronto Wildlife Centre. Thousands of calls are handled on the hotline in the busy part of the year. Rescues, medical care , rehabilitation and education are all components of this charity's mission. Victoria answers questions and dispels myths around the wildlife that show up in our urban gardens. What to do and what not to do. Building a healthy community for people and animals in Toronto. https://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/

Dr Elaine Wiersma research at Lakehead University highlights the special opportunity that gardeners have to make positive change as stewards, conservationists, guerilla gardeners, advocates, learners and teachers . We discuss her new project - Whispers From the North, a nursery she opened in 2021 in Pass Lake Ontario. Special species like Early Figwort, Northern Sweetgrass and Poverty Oat Grass are discussed. https://www.whispersfromthenorth.ca/ Matrix Gardening: https://wildones.org/matrix-landscape-design-with-benjamin-vogt/

Social Media sensation Grant Minkhorst is hooked on gardening. He wants you to jump in and make mistakes. A clever and often hilarious communicator , we talk the joy of flowers, starting from seed , and pest management . gardeninggrant.com News- How To Start Your Garden for the Season https://globalnews.ca/video/11200929/how-to-start-your-garden-for-the-season Grant recommends: https://www.ted.com/talks/rebecca_mcmackin_let_your_garden_grow_wild

Sean James is an ecological landscape expert. With his extensive horticultural knowledge he creates gardens that are public pleasing. Bold features, drifts of plants and seasonal vignettes make up his designs. This episode is jam packed with plant choices that can bring both birds and bees to your garden. Some plants of note are Bladdernut , Black Cherry, Silky Dogwood and Arrowleaf Aster. Notes https://www.seanjames-consulting.ca/ Sean James YouTube https://youtu.be/1K8x-vUkoMI?si=Z53QzXPjhZ25yhVO https://landscapeontario.com/about/