Giant African Land Snails (Archachatina ventricosa) We don’t often think about where snails come from, and they also hatch from eggs! Depending on the species and type of snail (land vs aquatic), eggs may be laid singly or in groups. The Giant African Land Snails that we display in our Conservatory lay single large eggs that are white or pale …
Cheecho Turns 11!
If you’ve been to the Conservatory, you’ve likely seen our Green-cheeked Conure, Cheecho. Cheecho has called the Conservatory home for close to a decade and he’s celebrating his 11th birthday this weekend! Green-cheeked Conures are small parrots known for their outgoing personalities. Cheecho is always curious, spunky, (and sometimes mischievous!) and because he loves social interaction, our staff spend time ...
Monarchs and Milkweed
The Ontario Monarchs are off! They've felt the environmental cues - colder weather, shorter days, and fewer milkweed plants - and they've packed their bags and headed south. They have a two-month, 4000+ kilometer journey ahead of them before they arrive in the Sierra Madre Mountain range in Central Mexico where they will spend the winter. After their long hibernation, ...
What is pollination?
Stories about the decline and disappearance of pollinators are abundant in the news worldwide and there's no doubt that these stories are spurring action in our communities. But what exactly is pollination, who are the pollinators, and why are they important? What is pollination? Pollination is the act of pollen being moved from the anther of a flower to the ...
Plan Your Visit
Planning a visit to the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory in the near future? Like many of our visitors, it is likely that you have a few questions before deciding to come and see us. Where will I park? Is there somewhere close by to eat? How long can we expect to spend in the facility? Look no further than this post ...
The Conservatory: A Photographer’s Dream
“Can I take pictures inside the Conservatory?” YES – absolutely yes! Some of the best photos we’ve ever seen have been taken by our guests inside the Conservatory. Thanks to Instagram and Facebook, we’ve been able to connect with some very talented people and are honoured to share their work. They’ve been kind enough to tell us a bit about …
The Hort Report – May 2018
To Till or Not to Till – Disturbing the World Wide Web As gardeners prepare the plot of land destined to support vegetables over the next few months or so, there is some controversy as to whether to till the soil. There are two trains of thought as to the proper gardening method. Here are some issues to consider. To …
The Hort Report – April 2018
5 Tips for Seed Starting As we wait for nature’s palette to reveal itself from under the frozen ground, we can create our own palette by starting seeds indoors. The seed catalogues are full of magnificent colours of thriving, healthy plants but sometimes the hope that we carefully nurture in the cell packs never comes to fruition. While reading the …
Hort Report – February 2018
Shinrin-Yoku: the therapeutic practice of ‘forest bathing’ Shinrin-Yoku, the practice of ‘forest bathing’, has roots in many cultures, but it was first identified and recognized as a form of therapeutic healing by the Japanese. In 1982, forest bathing was introduced as a Japanese public health program recognizing a true, meaningful appreciation of nature and its role in humanity. It …
Creepy or Cute?
“Eeww, that bug’s creepy!” What does it mean to be creepy? The meaning of the word refers to that skin-crawling sensation when something strange happens or weirds us out. There are many things that can be creepy to a person, and bugs are probably one of the top groups of animals that rate as being creepy. But something that …