Throughout the city of Toronto, there are a number of old canoes that have been repurposed as pots to grow plants. In fact, several have milkweed planted in them to help local pollinators. Now that we are in the middle of winter, only the stems remain. Can you identify what was planted in this canoe?... Continue Reading →
Urban Observation of the Week: Milkweed and Clover Together
Summertime is prime for doing field work for many scientists, including those of us that work on urban organisms. I was recently out in the field collecting bugs for one of the projects I work on. The first milkweed I found, looking for milkweed bugs, was this one below. The white flowers that are next... Continue Reading →
Urban Observation of the Week: Milkweed
These milkweeds are still hanging on. Most milkweed plants are not visible, they have retreated to under the soil, especially in urban areas that mow. This population has been holding on, protected by the narrow patch of land, shielded from many of the elements in this nook. These are hearty plants, found in rough patches,... Continue Reading →
Getting “Back on Track” with Common Milkweed
Sophie Breitbart, PhD student at University of Toronto Mississauga, tells us about her experience in the field working on milkweed. I'm sitting in the railway station Got a ticket to my destination... -Simon and Garfunkel, “Homeward Bound” Who would’ve thought that a young Paul Simon could have so much in common with a perennial herb... Continue Reading →