The Monarchs are Back!
Every fall our Ontario population of Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) heads south to overwinter in the mountains of Mexico. In late May, after what feels like an eternity, we finally start seeing Monarchs once again filling our skies with those vibrant wings of orange, making their way to our patches of milkweed to lay their eggs. Milkweed is the host ...
Photo Shoots in the Conservatory
With tropical canopies, cascading waterfalls, and free-flying butterflies, the Conservatory is a tropical paradise all year round. It’s no surprise that we have guests asking all the time if they can have photos taken here. The answer is YES! The Conservatory is a popular venue for all types of photography shoots - maternity photos, family photos, engagement photos. We’ve had ...
Where do our butterflies come from?
“Where do all your butterflies come from?” As guests wander around the Conservatory, we often get asked - how do we get thousands of tropical butterflies to a Conservatory in Southwestern Ontario? It helps to understand the life cycle of the butterfly in order to understand just how we can ship butterflies from halfway across the world. Of course there ...
Butterflies of Spring
Nothing says spring like butterflies! Thinking of butterflies conjures images of warm weather, sunny days and flowers in bloom. That's why Easter weekend is a pretty popular time to come visit the Conservatory: what better place to celebrate the advent of spring than where it's spring year-round and there's 100's of butterflies! What do butterflies eat if there are no ...
BugFeast goes Southwest for March Break 2019
March Break means BUGFEAST®! If you’ve never heard of it, BugFEAST® (not FEST) is exactly what the name suggests. With help from our sponsors over at EntomoFarms, we’re feasting on bugs during March Break. The 2019 BugFeast® went Southwest (bugs are the new brisket!) and we served up some Tex-Mex inspired recipes: BBQ Roasted Crickets Dulce de Leche Fudge with ...
Overwintering Monarch Numbers
Last week's release of the numbers of overwintering Monarchs in Mexico brought hope to Monarch butterfly enthusiasts. Certainly any numbers that are higher than the previous year, which was one of the lowest on record, seems a step in the right direction. Many of us did notice a good amount of Monarchs throughout last spring and summer, but some people ...
Styled Wedding Shoot: Geometric Shapes and Natural Tones
If you’ve visited the Conservatory lately you might notice that the dining room looks a little bit different these days. We removed counters and partitions in favour of a more open, airy space, increasing our capacity for a seated reception. We added a brick accent wall, two industrial-chic chandeliers and some neutral paint tones, transforming our space into the perfect …
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 …
- Page 2 of 2
- 1
- 2