facing climate change - Royal Botanical Gardens

Poaceae 

gone wild 

stinkpot raises 

a musk 

Paradise 

FOUND Vo 

Vo Volu lu lume me 1 NNum 

um umbe be ber r 4 

Wi Wint nter e 2200 

00 009/ 9/ 9 20 2010 10 

facing 

climate change 

return of the 

yellow ladyslipper

more information, updates and 

details, click on Events at www.rbg.ca. 

EVENTS @ THE GARDENS For 

Auxiliary of RBG Christmas Sale 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 12 

to 14; RBG Centre. See ad on page 18 

Doorways to the Holidays 

November 14 to December 10, 2009; RBG 

Centre. Holiday excitement starts here. 

Doors, doors everywhere – 100 artistically 

decorated doors will lead you to magical holiday 

experiences at RBG Centre, Hendrie Park and the 

Mediterranean Garden. 

Santa makes his annual visit 

Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Plus on November 15 and 22, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

meet Santa’s reindeer 

Plus special guests, local choral ensembles to fi ll 

our halls with festive song and much more. 

For more information contact: atimmins@rbg.ca 

Get Outside and Play! 

November 14 to December 10, 2009 

Thursdays, 6 to 9 p.m. and Sundays, 11 a.m 

to 4 p.m.; RBG Centre 

Ever wonder where bugs go in November, how 

plants l hhunker k ddown after f the h fi rst snow or what h 

our local chipmunks do to get ready for winter? 

Here’s your chance to enjoy a guided hike with 

our interpretive staff and learn the answers fi rst 

hand. Plus really cool kid’s crafts on Sundays. 

Auxiliary of RBG 

Evergreen Design Workshops 

Tuesday and Wednesday, November 24 and 25; 

1 and 7 p.m.; RBG Centre. See ad on page 18 

Shop @ THE GARDENS 

Artist Showcase and Sale 

December 10 to 12. See ad on page 4 

Romance in Bloom 

A Valentine’s Dinner and Dance 

Saturday, February 13, 2010; 6:30 to 

midnight; RBG Centre 

Members: $110/ couple 

Non-members: $130/ coupl p e 

Includes champagne and strawberries, plated 

dinner and cash bar 

Tickets: call 905-527-11158, ext 222 

Glass under Glass 

January 11 to February 28, 2010 

Mediterranean Garden, RBG Centre 

Experience glass art in a glass house — on display 

in our Mediterranean Garden. This fourth-annual 

exhibit includes an expanded display of shining 

examples of glass art created by Ontario artists. 

All artwork available for sale. 

Am Amaz azon on VVoy 

oyag age 

February 6 to April 11, 2010; Camilla and 

Peter Dalglish Atrium, RBG Centre. 

See ad on page 27

ON THE BACK COVER of this magazine you’ll see an ad 

asking you to support RBG. You’ll also see a postcard 

stitched into the magazine outlining some of the 

important work we do here – and, of course, asking you 

to contribute some of your hard-earned money to the 

effort. Elsewhere you’ll see an ad promoting the idea of 

giving RBG gift memberships to your friends and 

relatives. You are probably thinking, “they’re sure asking 

an awful lot.” The truth is, we are. If we don’t ask, we 

simply won’t be able to generate the funds it takes to 

make RBG sustainable. We use the word sustainable a lot, 

the fi nancial way and as a biodiversity descriptor. And in 

this regard, more than ever, RBG is playing a key role in 

the future of this planet. 

Every program we design, every exhibit we install and 

every idea we promote has one key driving force behind 

it: to have RBG act as an effective agent of change in 

promoting environmentally appropriate lifestyle choices 

that enable Canadians to sustain, 

conserve and enjoy the highest 

quality of life on Earth. It’s a 

mouthful, our vision, that’s for sure. 

Simply put, we’re here to give 

Canadians science-based 

information to help them save the 

world before it’s too late. 

Mark Runciman 

CEO 

To do this we need to generate 

funds. It costs about $11M a year to 

keep RBG running. And as we step 

Letter 

up the fi ght to preserve local biodiversity and help in the 

world-wide battle against climate change, we anticipate 

that budget rising to $14M. That’s a lot of money that we 

simply don’t have right now. The Province of Ontario has 

increased its support of RBG, which is a start. We must 

augment this in a much bigger way via our own revenue 

generating activities to make it all happen. 

And that brings us full circle back to the ads I mentioned 

at the start of this letter. We need your help. And we 

could sure use it now. Many people assume we’re a 

wealthy, government-owned operation. We’re not. We’re 

an independent charity. About 54 per cent of our funding 

comes from the Province, City of Hamilton and Regional 

Municipality of Halton and in one-off grants. The rest we 

raise ourselves, with support from people like you. 

I know that the fabled economic rebound hasn’t quite 

come and we are all heading into an expensive holiday 

season. And I know there are myriad competing requests 

out there. But please consider joining the ranks of those 

people who help us cobble together the other 46 per cent 

of our annual budget. The work we do is too important to 

ignore, and the planet too precious to let languish. We 

need you, you need us, and we all need a healthy future. 

When we work together we can change the world, one 

small step at a time. On behalf of the volunteers and staff 

of RBG please except our best wishes for the holiday 

season and the coming New Year. 

Winter 2009/2010 PARADISE FOUND 3

Paradise Found, d ISSN 1918-7599, is published 

quarterly by Royal Botanical Gardens. This magazine 

is our vehicle for disseminating details about current 

Gardens’ affairs, events and programs. 

Paradise Foundd is produced by, and is the sole prop- 

erty of, Royal Botanical Gardens. All rights reserved. 

No article, graphic or excerpt of same may be made 

without the written permission of the editor. 

Address correspondence to: loliver@rbg.ca 

Paradise Foundd Editor, 

Royal Botanical Gardens 

680 Plains Road West, Burlington 

P.O. Box 399, Hamilton, ON L8N 3H8 

905-527-1158; 1-800-694-4769; Fax 905-577-0375 

Editor: Lee Oliver 

Art Director: Irene Feddema 

Publication Agreement: 40686577 

Cover photo: Red maple (Acer rubrum) 

Royal Botanical Gardens is funded by the people 

of Ontario through RBG members, RBG Auxiliary, 

many corporations, foundations, individuals, 

Ontario Ministry of Culture, City of Hamilton and 

Regional Municipality of Halton. 

OUR MISSION: To be a living museum which serves local, 

regional and global communities while developing 

and promoting public understanding of the relationship 

between the plant world, humanity and the rest 

of nature. 

Shop @ THE GARDENS 

OPEN DAILY 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

4 PARADISE FOUND Winter 2009/2010 

20% OFF 

one item 

with this ad 

Valid one per customer 

from December 10 

to 12, 2009. 

CONTENTS CCCC CCC OOOO OOO N N 

T 

CLIPPINGS .......................................... 

FEATURE 

Plants under a changing climate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

N 

. 

Openings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Photo Contest Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

DEPARTMENTS E 

Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Horticulture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . T 

. 

Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Conservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

NN 

Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Tribute and Memorial Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Events @ the Gardens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

RBG by the Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

O C 

PUBLIC PROGRAMS insert 

Instructor list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

For the gardener. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

For the nature lover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Botanical arts and crafts.................................... 

Plants, people and wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P9C 

. . . . . . . 

For kids, families and teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P12 

Membership registration form...................................... P13 

Policies / Program registration form. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P14 

Amazon Voyage Special Programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P15 

December 10 

is RBG members’ 

DOUBLE 

DISCOUNT day 

(one day only) 

Artist showcase — December 10, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; 

December 11 and 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

FEATURING LOCAL ARTISTS WORK: Anthony Smerelli, Sailor Girl Jewerly, 

Quantum International, Precious Maples, Rocks by Anita, 

Carolyn Showler-Lee, and Inspirational Woodworks 

SUPPORT ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS 

Each purchase supports the Gardens’ programs and activities. Staff and 

volunteers are pleased to help you choose from fabulous gifts to fi ne 

home entertainment pieces. Royal Botanical Gardens’ members receive a 

10 per cent discount (some conditions apply). Gift certifi cates available. 

RBG CENTRE, 680 PLAINS ROAD WEST, HAMILTON/BURLINGTON, 905-527-1158, ext. 224

Congrats to 

Corina Rose of 

Burlington. Corina was 

the fi rst of a dozen 

readers to spot the 

maidenhair fern 

(Adiantum pedatum). 

More than a pretty 

fern, maidenhairs are 

used in the creation of 

herbal medicine for 

colds, asthma, sore 

throats, kidney stones 

and liver problems, not 

to mention yummy 

herbal tea. 

Herbarium Brain ain Teas 

T ser 

Can you name the plant represented in n thiss 

herbarium 

specimen? It was collected on September 29, 

2004. 

Although this specimen was not t col olllected t d from f RBG 

property, you may see it growing along trails on the south 

shore of Cootes Paradise se and in Hendrie Valley Valley. This 

evergreen shrub was found growing in a dry forest under 

Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) and oak trees (Quercus 

spp.). This plant can be 5 to15 cm tall and grows from 

rhizomes (an underground horizontal stem). The leaves 

are crowded near the tip of erect branches and when 

mature they are a dark green with a shiny upper surface. 

The leaves feel fi rm and leathery to touch. This plant 

fl owers in June and has small urn-shaped white fl owers 

CLIPPINGS 

Clippings is your source for 

quirky, ground-breaking 

news, stories and events 

germinated at the Gardens 

which turn into bright red berries that ripen in September 

and may stay on the plant throughout the winter. 

The berries and leaves of this species have a distinct 

minty fl flavour avour. The leaves have been used historically to 

fl avor beer and in remedies for colds, stomach problems 

and rheumatism. 

If you think you can identify this specimen, send your 

answer to loliver@rbg.ca or Paradise Found, 

c/o Lee Oliver, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington, ON L7T 

4H4. The fi rst correct answer wins bragging rights in the 

next issue of Paradise Found. 


CLIPPINGS 

A warmer climate in Canada? 

By Jodi Vanderheyden 

A warmer climate in Canada? Sounds great! No winter boots, 

no snow shoveling, no treacherous winter driving. But increased 

CO2 levels, higher temperatures and unstable precipitation is 

going to play havoc with our plants. Not so great! 

Match the photos to the threats. 

1. Increased nitrogen soil 

levels have given this species a 

boost, allowing it to choke 

out Erica tetralix, and other 

species. Without this group 

of plant species, wet 

heathland communities have 

been devastated. Do you 

have this ornamental grass in 

your garden? 

2. With exposure to 

elevated levels of CO2, this 

plant species adapts quickly. 

Increased photosynthesis and 

better water-use effi ciency 

allows this plant to outcompete 

its neighbours. This 

should keep poison control 

centers busy. 

3. To date, 131 species 

and subspecies of this genus 

are cited on the IUCN red list 

as threatened with global 

extinction. With fl owers 

ranging from pure white to 

pink, purple and yellow, these 

spectacular trees and shrubs 

have won numerous Awards 

of Merit. 

4. In a recent study on the 

effects of elevated CO2 on 

plant cold tolerance, this 

ancient tree species was 

found to be more sensitive to 

cold temperatures, with slow 

recovery times. Decline of this 

species wouldn’t be good for 

our memories. 


5. The effects of drought 

and increased temperature 

are already being observed in 

this tree. In southern parts of 

its range, annual growth rates 

have declined 49 per cent. 

This tree would be missed in 

ornamental landscapes. 

6. For 600 years this tree 

genus has been celebrated 

with an annual bloom 

festival. In recent years, the 

timing of these celebrations 

has revealed that it is 

fl owering earlier than it ever 

has before. 

7. This species is so excited 

about the warmer climate it 

has expanded its range in 

Switzerland and northern 

Italy, making it the world’s 

northern-most wild palm. 

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Postcards P t d ffrom th the past t 

CELEBRATING RBG ARCHIVED NOTES 

Before Facebook and YouTube, people sent postcards. 

CLIPPINGS 

Photo: RBG Archives 


CLIPPINGS 

Murdoch Mysteries 

In early August RBG tu turn rned ed bbac 

ac ack k th the e ha hand nd nds s of time. 

Ok Okay ay, , th the actual al tur urni ning ng wwas 

as d ddon 

on one e by t tthe 

he h pro p ro rodu du duce c rs 

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guy fl eeing g ac across ss a ffoo 

oo ootb tb tbri ri ridg dg d e, y ou c ccan 

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oc ocally ly ly, Mu Murd rd rdoc och h My Myst st ster er e ie i s ai a rs oon 

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ac a kdro ro r p to aan 

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sur ur u fi fing ng ng. 

VIA Rail Garden Route 

CONTEST 2009 

And the winner is: 

RUTH WALLACE of Burlington 

Ruth has won a fi rst-class round trip for two to Montreal 

in the summer of 2010 with two nights accommodation 

at Les Passants du Sans Soucy and passes to Montreal 

Botanical Garden. Congratulations! 

www.viarail.ca/garden 

www.sdcvieuxmontreal.com 


www.museumsnature.ca 

www.lesanssoucy.com 

Burlington BlueCreeks 

Wants You 

Burlington BlueCreeks, funded by the Burlington 

Community Foundation, is a multi-year, multi-project 

undertaking meant to clean and restore Grindstone 

Creek. From garbage removal to eradicating invasive 

fl ora to tracking and protecting turtles, BlueCreeks has 

its work cut out for it. They’re looking for volunteers. 

Conservation Halton, the Hamilton-Halton Watershed 

Stewardship Program, Conservation Halton Foundation, 

the Bay Area Restoration Council and Royal Botanical 

Gardens are partners in the project. 

Visit www.burlingtonbluecreeks.ca for fall volunteer 

participation opportunities.

Open House: 

RBG natural lands 

RBG is updating its natural lands plan and 

will hold an open house at RBG Centre 

early 2010 – watch the website for date 

and time. This is your opportunity to share 

you experience, provide input into issues to 

be addressed, and learn more about the 

regional signifi cance of the sanctuaries. 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR 

Sir, with admiration and gratitude I share this story. 

My father is 87 and in a retirement home in 

Aldershot. One afternoon two weeks ago, I took 

him out to lunch at the famous Easterbrooks 

establishment located close to Royal Botanical 

Gardens. Of course, it was busy and indoor seating 

was at a premium. The only available seating was 

at the counter which my dad would fi nd a 

challenge. As we sat at the counter, two young 

men wearing your summer camp leader t-shirts 

noticed my dad as I was sitting at the counter and 

as I was standing in line to place the order, these 

two young men got up and offered my dad the 

booth. It was very much appreciated by my dad. 

Unfortunately, after they ate their lunch they left 

so I did not get their names. As you know, when 

employees are wearing a shirt with your 

organization name on it is important to act in a 

way that does that organization proud. These two 

young men did exactly that. 

I am sure in your interview process for summer 

camp leaders you look for this type of person and 

you found them in these two counsellors. 

Just thought you should be aware. 

Jim Lacey 

Lives, connected 

CLIPPINGS 

RBG was saddened to learn that F. Eleanor Johnson 

passed away on July 27, 2009 from complications due to 

diabetes. Eleanor’s long association with the Gardens 

began with an exhibition of her work in 1983. By 1989 

she was teaching art at RBG, and continued to do so until 

1997. Remembered as a popular and talented artist and 

teacher, she mounted exhibitions of her students’ work 

titled Floral Painters of the Royal Botanical Gardens, as 

well as her own exhibitions in the 1980s and 1990s. She 

was later commissioned to paint a botanical subject 

which became the fi rst 

colour cover of Pappus, 

(RBG’s quarterly magazinne 

at the time) and her worrk 

was also reproduced on 

subsequent covers of thee 

magazine in the 1990s. 

Her botanical paintings 

earned her membership 

in the American Society 

of Botanical Artists, 

and she was also an 

elected member of 

the Society of Canadian 

Artists. She went on to develop two distinct 

watercolour series with social messages. Her quilt series, 

begun in the 1980s, honoured the women who created 

art through quilting. Her later series, H2 H O Endangered, 

begun in the 1990s, drew attention to the plight of fresh 

water resources in large abstracted works refl ecting 

challenging watercolour techniques. The world is a 

smaller place without her. 


Battlefi eld Travel Unique Group Tours 

Battlefi eld Travel is pleased to present these exciting tours. We continue to strive to provide participants with a high-quality tour 

at a leisurely pace. To book, inquire or to receive further information for either of these tours please call Wendi Gladstone or 

Shelley Boros at Battlefi eld Travel, 905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004, or email wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com. 

Reg# 2591391 Battlefi eld Travel Inc., 297 Highway #8, Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1E5 

France Longstay in the Cote d’Azur 

3- and 4-week stays in Cannes 

February 25 to March 18, or February 25 to March 25, 2010 

Pierre & Vacances Villa Francia Resort 

Tucked in the heart of the Cote d’Azur, the town of Cannes is known world 

wide for its famous fi lm festival. But there is more to Cannes than this 

annual two-week event in May … the town is delightful and compact with a 

pleasant shopping street lined with boutiques. Alongside the beach is an 

attractive beachfront, la Croisette, which is peppered with cafés and bars, 

many offering picturesque views across the Bay. On a peaceful residential 

hillside overlooking the bustling city of Cannes, with wonderful views of the 

Mediterranean Sea, is the Pierre & Vacances Villa Francia Resort. The 

apartments are fully equipped with kitchenette, television, bathroom and 

terrace or balcony. The Villa Francia restaurant features indoor and outdoor 

terraces with a unique panoramic view of the sea. The beach is just 1 km 

away and you can walk or take the free hotel shuttle that runs all day! 

During your stay on the Cote d’Azur you’ll fi nd the local train schedule both 

frequent and convenient allowing day visits of the entire area. Consider a 

day trip to Monaco where you can see the palace and its wonderful 

gardens, the old city with the church where Princess Grace is buried, the 

port, and of course the world famous casino. 

There are many reasons the French Riviera became known as a great place 

for artists. For Matisse it was the light, for Cezanne it was largely to escape 

the draft, Renoir settled here for his health, and Picasso seemed to fi nd 

echoes of his Mediterranean upbringing in Spain. It would keep you busy 

just visiting the many museums and galleries that are the legacy of these 

wonderful artists. 

Your Cote d’Azur Longstay includes: 

• Return airfare with Air France from Toronto/Nice 

• Airport transfers in France 

• Accommodation based on 21 or 28 night stays 

• Linens and towels furnished upon arrival, 

change of linen and towels once a week, 

apartment cleaning once a week 

• Services of a local representative, fully escorted 

Cost: 3-week stay $2,470 plus $395 taxes* per person 

Cost: 4-week stay $2,670 plus $395 taxes* per person 

* Fuel surcharges may apply at time of balance 


ASK US: 

ADD 3 

NIGHTS 

IN PARIS 

50% 

sold, book 

NOW! 

Longstay Seminar 

You’re Invited — 

Join us on November 25, 10:30 a.m. at the Café Annex, 

RBG Centre, Burlington, for a seminar with all the details and 

information for your France Longstay! No charge to attend 

but you must RSVP (limited seating) 

905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004 

The Gardens & Castles of Wales & Ireland 

May 20 to June 3, 2010 

Travel back in time on a journey of discovery. 

Join us in 2010 when we explore the 

gardens, ancient strongholds, abbeys and 

country houses of Wales and Ireland. It is 

sure to provide a rich and rewarding 

experience. Towering fortifi cations like 

Caernarfon and Conwy Castles in Wales, 

and Bunratty and Blarney Castles in Ireland 

can not fail to create a lasting impression. 

We will visit glorious gardens like Bodnant 

Gardens, Shankill Castle & Gardens, and 

Powerscourt Gardens to name a few. We will see Irish architecture at its 

fi nest, travel the wonderful Welsh countryside, visit internationally renowned 

gardens that are home to rare botanical treasures, stay in some wonderful 

hotels, dine at a pub or two along the way, have a few surprises here and 

there – and even stop in at a woolen mill and a distillery! 

Your Gardens & Castles tour includes: 

• Flight from Toronto to London and return from Dublin 

• Transportation throughout by luxury coach 

• 13 nights fi rst-class accommodation including taxes 

• All breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners (including taxes and gratuities) 

• Entrance to all gardens and castles as listed on the itinerary 

• All sightseeing as per the itinerary — ask for a detailed itinerary! 

• Hosted throughout by Robert Howard and Patricia Tapsall 

Cost: $5,495 plus 465 taxes* per person 

The group size is limited to approximately 36 participants. Deposit is 

$1,000 per person. At this time the tour is 75% sold. To confi rm your spot 

on this tour please call Wendi or Shelley at Battlefi eld 

Travel, 905-662-6355 or toll free at 1-866-574-8004 or email 

wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com 

You’re Invited — 

Join us on Wednesday, November 25 at 2 p.m. 

at the Café Annex, RBG Centre, Burlington for an 

informative seminar with Battlefi eld Travel and 

Rob Howard. Rob has prepared a wonderful presentation 

to highlight all the details of the tour. At this time the tour is 

75% sold – and at the presentation (or before) we will be 

taking bookings for the last few spots we have available. 

Call now to reserve your seat at the seminar or register 

for your spot on the tour. No charge to attend the 

seminar but you must RSVP (limited seating) 

905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004

AUXILIARY NEWS 

JUDGING BY THE FRENZIED ACTIVITY of the 

elves in the Workshop, the holiday season is fast 

approaching. The Auxiliary Christmas Sale is 

the kick-off event for Royal Botanical Gardens’ 

holiday celebrations, and it promises to be a 

spectacular show and sale. 

The theme for this issue of Paradise Found d is 

climate change, and as we have witnessed, there 

have been a number of violent thunderstorms, 

and even a couple of tornados in our area, or 

nearby. Is this a normal weather cycle, or is it 

due to the gradual change in temperature in our 

northern climatic zones? As we are aware, plants 

are vital to human survival and Royal Botanical 

Gardens is taking a leading role in exploring the effects of 

climate change on our wild and cultivated plants (see 

“Plants Under a Changing Climate” on page 19). 

So where do members of RBG Auxiliary fi t into the 

research and monitoring programs conducted by RBG’s 

mandated areas of science, horticulture, education and 

conservation? Take a look at the following areas of 

involvement by Auxiliary members: 

Assisting in the herbarium data recording 

Counting gypsy moth egg infestations 

Shirley Jordan 

Auxiliary President 

Planting native plants and weed control in the 

Helen M. Kippax Garden 

Propagation of native plants species for sale at our Spring 

and Fall Plant sales, and during the gardening season 

Raising native plants for restoration of the controlled 

burn areas 

Assisting in a research program counting bee pollinators 

on RBG property sites 

Assisting in butterfl y and dragonfl y counts on 

RBG property 

Providing assistance monitoring precipitation at the 

RBG weather station 

Constant and intensive weeding of invasive species 

All of these activities add to the statistical and research 

work that RBG staff is gathering to determine effects of 

changing climatic conditions on plants in our region. 

Auxiliary volunteers tending to native species 

destined to repopulate prescribed burn areas 

If you thought that RBG Auxiliary members only potted 

and sold plants, or made gorgeous fl ower arrangements, 

take a look at the above list of fascinating areas that may 

be of interest to you as volunteers. You do not have to be 

a scientist or horticulturist to be involved in many of the 

valuable research programs conducted by RBG. 

If you would like to join our energetic and enthusiastic 

volunteers, we would be pleased to hear from you by 

phone at 905-577-7771 or e-mail auxiliary@rbg.ca. 

Upcoming events 

Auxiliary Christmas Sale 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 12 to 14; 

RBG Centre 

Auxiliary Evergreen Design Workshops 

Tuesday and Wednesday, November 24 and 25; 

1 and 7 p.m.; Auditorium, RBG Centre 

Auxiliary Annual General Meeting and Luncheon 

Thursday, February 11; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Auditorium, 

RBG Centre 



Pennisetum sp. 

Miscanthus sp. 

Laking Garden 

FRIEND OR FOE? 

MOST GARDENERS HAVE FAVOURITE PLANTS or 

favourite plant families. For some of you it is roses, 

for some it is orchids. Mine is the world of ornamental 

grasses (Poaceae) and the grass-like plants, sedges 

(Cyperaceae) and rushes ( (Juncaceae). 

For many years I 

have added more and more to my garden and have reveled 

in their texture, colour and particularly the movement in 

the slightest breeze. 

This was a friendly group of plants, very close to being 

no-maintenance, at least as close as you can get without 

paving the garden. Of course, as in any plant family, 

there were a few thugs. One had to watch for aggressive 

runners which were usually on offer at the local 

horticulture society plant sale and also available from 

gardening friends. The thugs were easily identifi ed and 

easy to avoid with a little caution. 

Here in Southern Ontario, we were safe from the 

aggressive self-seeders. After all, we have cold winters 

and shorter growing seasons. We did not have to worry 

about the Miscanthus grasses (commonly called maiden 

grasses or eulalie grasses) taking over not only the garden 

but also the natural lands. So we could plant to our heart’s 

content and we have done just that, in private and public 

gardens alike. 

RBG has some magnifi cent stands of ornamental grasses 

in Laking Garden, Hendrie Park, Rock Garden and some 

fi ne specimens at RBG Centre and in Mediterranean 

Garden. In fact, we have a nice temporary display of 

grasses in the bulb room (display house) as part of a 

discussion on plant adaptations to wet and dry sites. 

(Note that this display is well worth a visit!) 

Commercial and municipal plantings include 

grasses as a norm nowadays and indeed one of the 

most popular landscape plants world-wide is 'Karl 

Foerster' (Calamagrostis x acutifl ora) known as 

feather reed grass. 

Then we started to experience some of the seasonal 

irregularities anticipated with global warming and 

climate change. One of these changes has been a 

slightly longer growing season in the past few years. 

HORTICULTURE COLUMN

Belinda 

Gallagher 

Head of 

Horticulture 

I am not a scientist, but I am an observer of plants. Prior 

to my role as head of horticulture, I was a perennial 

plant grower, raising these plants predominantly from 

seed. It was imperative that I keep good records in order 

to be successful from one year to another. One thing 

that I observed was that the longer summer seasons 

allowed some Miscanthus grasses to produce viable seed, 

something they had not done previously. 

Amid my stands of named cultivars, I now had scores of 

seedling Miscanthus grasses of all heights, forms and blade 

widths. Was my friend now a foe? 

This obvious self-seeding of such a beautiful family of 

grasses was of real concern. I had avoided the use of the 

species Miscanthus saccharifl orus which was listed in 

some parts of the USA as invasive, but had embraced 

Miscanthus sinensis, M. sinensis v. condensatus and M. 

transmorrisonensis. Now, it seems that a re-evaluation of 

these plants is necessary not only in my own garden, but 

also at Royal Botanical Gardens. 

As we move further into the future, we will likely 

discover more of our garden plants getting out of hand, 

self sowing with reckless abandon, surviving the milder 

winters, perhaps surviving the composting process, too. 

It will take careful observation and a collaborative effort 

between horticulture professionals, home gardeners, 

conservationists and government agencies to ensure 

that our favourite garden friends do not become 

environmental foes. 

Miscanthus sp. 

Iris pseudacorus 

It appears that this global warming might make foes 

of several garden friends. I spent some time looking 

at the invasive plant lists of U.S. states that are one 

or two zones warmer than we are here in Southern 

Ontario. Here is what I found: 

• Babies breath (Gypsophila paniculata)is listed as 

an invasive in the very close states of Wisconsin 

and Michigan 

• Verbena bonariensis is appearing on lists in the 

mid-Atlantic region 

• Wonderful annuals like beefsteak plant (Perilla) and 

Verbena bonariensis are now on watch lists in the 

USA and Perilla is listed invasive in Pennsylvania, 

Illinois and Missouri 

• Common biennials such as hollyhocks (Alcea) and 

bugloss (Anchusa azurea) are appearing along with 

dames rocket (Hesperis matronalis) 

• The state of Massachusetts, a leader in invasive 

plant control now has 139 records on its prohibited 

list including plants we see commonly on sale 

benches including burning bush (Euonymus alatus), 

Berberis thunbergii i and B. vulgaris, yellow fl ag iris 

(Iris pseudacorus), moneywort (Lysimachia 

nummularia), and black locust (Robinia 

pseudoacacia) among others 

• And fi nally, my friends the Miscanthus are 

reported invasive from Georgia to Connecticut, 

Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana 

Jeff McMillian @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database 


CARBON OFFSETTING: 

or how to save the planet, one person at a time 

YOU ARE GOING TO READ A LOT aabo 

bout ut ccli 

lima mate te ccha 

hang nge 

in this issue. Much of it will alarm you. And frankly, it 

should. The world is on a collision course with itself. We 

ne need ed tto 

ad adop opt fu func ncti tion onal al gglo 

loba bal an and lo loca cal st stra rate tegi gies es 

im imme medi diat atel ely or ssoo 

oon en enou ough gh tthe 

here re wwil 

ill be nnot 

othi hing ng llef 

eft to 

save. Still, there is a lot you, as an individual, can do. 

Kn Knoc ock th the th ther ermo most stat at ddow 

own a fe few de degr gree ees in tthe 

he ccol 

olde der 

months, skip air conditioning in the summer, drive less 

(or not at all), walk more, turn off unnecessary lights, buy 

locally, locally reduce, reduce reuse, reuse recycle and so on. on 

Now you can add carbon offsetting to the toolkit. It’s 

been around for a while, but is only just gaining traction 

in the broader community. To help you wrap your head 

around the concept, here is a carbon offsetting primer: 

What is carbon offsetting 

and how does it work? 

A carbon offset is a real, and permanent, reduction of a 

greenhouse gas emission. Developed to compensate or 

“offset” an equivalent greenhouse gas emission from 

another source that cannot be easily eliminated, carbon 

offsets help mitigate global warming. 

Simply put, if you absolutely have to perform a task, such 

as fl ying to Chicago on business (as my colleague Dr. 

David Galbraith recently did), you make up for that by 

purchasing credits in a project that is actively reducing 

overall carbon emissions. 

Before buying offsets, you calculate the quantity of carbon 

you emit by fl ying (or driving or using electricity or 

whatever), then you pay for a project that reduces carbon 

emissions by this same amount. In Dr. Galbraith’s 

case, the hotel he stayed at in Chicago actually 

offered a service whereby he could carbon-offset 

directly to his hotel bill — he gave the Marriott $10, 

and it passed it along to a pre-approved project. 

SCIENCE COLUMN 

Many projects capture industrial or agricultural 

methane and burn it to generate energy. (While 

there is much less methane than CO 2 in the 

atmosphere, every tonne of it causes 20 to 70 times 

as much warming as a tonne of carbon dioxide.) 


Ca Carb rbon on ooff 

ffse sett ttin ing is ggai 

aini ning ng 

prominence as a tool to compensate 

for emissions. By paying someone 

el else se tto 

ab abso sorb rb oor 

av avoi oid th the re rele leas ase 

of a tton 

on oof 

CO CO2 eels 

lsew ewhe here re, th the 

purchaser of a carbon offset can 

ai aim to ccom 

ompe pens nsat ate fo for th thei eir 

own emissions. This is 

possible because climate 

change is a non-localized 

non localized 

problem — greenhouse gases 

spread evenly throughout the 

atmosphere, so reducing them 

anywhere contributes to 

overall climate protection. 

Queenie Yee 

Coordinator, Sustainability 

Symposium Program 

Because the voluntary market for carbon offsets is largely 

unregulated and is still relatively new, the quality of 

offsets on the market and the reliability of vendors can 

vary considerably. 

Choosing a carbon offset provider 

To begin, review the issues associated with different types 

of offset project types (e.g. wind farms, tree planting, 

etc.), and consider which offset project types you wish to 

support. Renewable-energy and energy-effi ciency projects 

are most likely to offer high-quality offsets, and also help 

support the transition to a clean-energy economy. 

Although quite popular, offsets from tree-planting 

projects are problematic for a number of reasons, 

including their lack of permanence and the fact that these 

projects do not address our dependence on fossil fuels. 

Is a project you’re considering supporting backed up by a 

credible standard? Both the Clean Development Mechanism 

(CDM) and The Gold Standard are commonly used for 

offset projects around the world, but because of the 

global carbon accounting rules created by the Kyoto 

Protocol, offset projects located in countries like Canada 

that have Kyoto targets cannot be offi cially certifi ed to 

either of these standards. However, Canadian vendors 

often sell offsets from projects that are located in other 

countries that have been certifi ed to these standards.

Choosing Canadian? 

But what if you would like to purchase offsets from projects 

developed and located in Canada? In the absence of a recognized 

standard, look at whether these offset projects meet key quality 

criteria listed below. 

Management team: Does the provider’s website give details of 

the people who are running it? 

Mult iple projects: Does the provider support more than one 

project? Supporting a range of projects offers protection against 

the possible failure of an individual project. 

Quality Standards: Do they use an objective standard to ensure 

the quality of the offsets they sell? 

Education: What are they doing to educate buyers about climate 

change and the need for climate-change policy? 

Unique ownership: To ensure offsets are sold only once and 

to track ownership, they should be listed in a publicly 

accessible registry. 

Permanence: Reductions must be guaranteed for a period of no 

less than 100 years, and monitoring and insurance mechanisms 

must be developed to ensure this. 

Leakage: Offset projects should not lead to increases in 

greenhouse h gas emissions i outt side i tthe 

scope of th the project, j or, if i 

they do, these emissions must be subtracted from any reductions 

achieved by the offset project. 

Vendor transparency: Does the vendor’s website provide 

information about its services, organizational structure, contact 

details, staff and executive team, and the proportion of its offset 

price that goes to overhead. With respect to the offsets they are 

selling they should make available information about the project 

locations and types, tonnes of f off ffsets createdd bby 

each h project, 

the names of verifi ers, and when the offsets that are being sold 

were created. 

February 17 to 19, 2010 

How do you measure up? 

Calculating your individual or family’s 

“carbon footprint” will identify which 

activities result in the most greenhouse 

gas emissions and areas where emissions 

could be reduced. Terrapass (www. 

terrapass.com) and Carbon Trust (www. 

carbontrust.co.uk) have created online 

calculators that simplify the process of 

calculating personal and business-wide 

ca carb rbon bon 

eemi 

miss ssio ions ns. 

Living Plants, Liveable Communities: 

Exploring Sustainable Horticulture for the 21st Century online 

Royal Botanical Gardens is introducing the Canadian Institute 

for Sustainable Biodiversity. Visit www.rbg.ca/cisb 

registration 

now open 



EGYPT T — April 5 to 18, 2010 

Escorted by Paul Attack 

On our 13-day April 2010 tour to Egypt, 

you will see the pyramids, the sphinx, and enjoy a luxury cruise on the Nile 

taking you to Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan. Also included is a visit to 

Abu Simbel, famous for its four imposing statues of the Pharaoh Rameses 

— a must-see! But what makes our visit to Egypt even more exciting and 

really different is a 2-night jeep safari into 

the Western Desert. Here you will enjoy breathtaking views of the white 

and black desert and experience the beauty of a desert sunset. And, of 

course, you will visit Cairo, home to the Egyptian Museum, the Ali 

Alabaster Mosque and the frenetic Khan El Khalili Bazaar. 

Your 13-day Egypt tour includes: 

• Roundtrip fl ights between Toronto and Cairo 

• Domestic air tickets: Cairo/Abu Simbel/Aswan – Luxor/Cairo 

• All breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 9 dinners 

• 5 nights accommodations at the 4-star Ramses Hilton Hotel on the banks 

of the Nile in Cairo 

• 2-night desert safari in fi rst-class accommodations 

• 3 nights accommodations on board the luxury Movenpick Royal Lily for a 

Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor 

• 1 night accommodation in Aswan and one last night in Cairo 

• Full-day Cairo city tour, visiting the Egyptian Museum, King “Tut’s” tomb, 

Old Cairo, the Citadel of Saladin, and the Khan El Khalili oriental market 

• Abu Simbel Tour by air from Cairo 

• Full-day Cairo pyramids Tour visiting the 5,000 year old pyramids and sphinx 

at Giza, the city of Memphis, Sakkara and the Step Pyramid of Zoser 

• All sightseeing tours and entrances as listed in the above highlights 

• Services of English speaking Egyptologist and all entrance fees 

Cost: $5,295 plus $450 tax; visa cost $25* 

You’re Invited — Join us on November 23, 10:30 a.m. .m. at the th 

Café Annex, RBG Centre, for a presentation with all the details and 

information on this exciting tour. No charge to attend but you must 

RSVP (limite (limited seating) 905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004 04 

WHY NOT EXTEND YOUR TOUR TO INCLUDE JORDAN? 

April 17 to 21, 2010 

Extension cost: $1895 plus $195 tax; visa fee (approx $20)* 

Luxor / Cairo / Amman to Amman / Wadi Rum / Petra 

Visiting Amman, Wadi Rum, Petra, and the Dead Sea. Highlights for 

this extension tour to Jordan include Wadi Rum, Jordan’s largest desert, 

Petra the Rose-Red City with its spectacular treasury, Royal tombs, burial 

chambers and high places of sacrifi ce, plus a full day to relax at the Dead 

Sea or take an optional excursion to Madaba and Mt Nebo. 

Your 4-night Jordan extension tour includes: 

• Additional domestic and international fl ights to include Jordan, all 

breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners, deluxe accommodations, entrance 

fees to all included sightseeing, fully escorted by a local guide. 

* Cost per person, may vary with the number of participants and may change 

Tour numbers are limited — book early to avoid disappointment. 

To reserve or inquire please call Wendi or Shelley at Battlefi eld 

Travel, 905-662-6355 or toll free at 1-866-574-8004 or email 

wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com 


Battlefi eld Travel is pleased to present these exciting tours. We 

continue to strive to provide participants with a high-quality 

tour at a leisurely pace. To book, inquire or to receive a detailed 

itinerary for any of these tours please call Wendi Gladstone 

or Shelley Boros at Battlefi eld Travel, 905-662-6355 or 

1-866-574-8004, or email wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com. 


Wonders of Turkey 

May 5 to 19, 2010 

Turkey is a country located at a point 

where three continents — Asia, 

Africa and Europe — are closest to 

each other and where Asia and 

Europe meet. Because of its 

geographical location, Turkey has 

always been signifi cant throughout 

history and is the birthplace of many 

great civilizations — it is a country fi lled 

with history and an abundance of culture and art. 

SMALL 

GROUP TRAVEL 

Try our NEW SMALL 

GROUP TRAVEL TOURS TO 

EGYPT AND TURKEY with 

an intimate party — usually 

numbering 14 or so 

guests (never more 

than 24) 

This, along with our relaxed pace and small group ambiance, is what makes 

our tour unique … you get to experience it all. Our itinerary includes visits 

to Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Ephesus and Izmir, but you will also get 

to see Avanos famous for its pottery, the Karaty tile museum and the Yildiz 

Procelain factory. In Denizli we visit a glass factory and in Karacasu the clay 

workshops. The town of Tire is home to local arts such as fabric and rope 

making while in Kurudere you will experience country life and explore the 

blue bead kilns. You will leave Turkey amazed by its history and enriched by 

its varied arts and culture! 

Your Wonders of Turkey tour includes: 

• Return airfare scheduled with Lufthansa 

• 13 nights in fi rst class hotels including: 5 nights in Istanbul, 3 nights in 

Cappadocia, 1 night in both Konya and Pamukkale, 2 nights in Kusadasi, 

and 1 night in Izmir 

• 13 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 10 dinners 

• Sightseeing highlights include; full day tour of Istanbul, Bosphorus Waterway 

Boat Tour, Kaymakli Underground City, the painted cave-churches of 

Goreme, Ephesus, plus much, much more. 

• Full sightseeing and entrance fees as per detailed itinerary (please ask us!) 

• Air-conditioned coach transportation throughout 

• Domestic fl ights from Istanbul to Kayseri and from Izmir to Istanbul 

• Local English-speaking guide throughout, locally escorted 

• Porterage and local taxes 

• Limited to 24 participants! 

Cost: $3,995 plus $395 tax 

Ask us for a detailed itinerary of this tour — to reserve or inquire please call 

Wendi or Shelley at Battlefi eld Travel, 905-662-6355 or 

toll free at 1-866-574-8004 or email wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com 

You’re Invited — Join us on November 23, 1:30 p.m. at the 



RSVP SVP (limited seating) 905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004


SOUTH AFRICA A — October 2010 

Join us to discover why South Africa is such a popular tourist destination. 

Enjoy world-class wildlife-watching as we will see at our world-class game 

resort in Kruger National Park; cosmopolitan cities like the great big beating 

heart of Johannesburg; stunning natural panoramas like Table Mountain 

National Park; vibrant cultures that make South Africa appealing to almost 

every taste. Experience the majesty of the “mother city” Cape Town, fl anked 

by Table Mountain and the Indian and Atlantic Oceans. Learn about the 

diverse history of the people of the country with a visit to SOWETO and 

Pretoria, and experience a private game lodge in the bush that will 

introduce you to the wildlife of South Africa. Don’t miss this opportunity for 

the trip of a lifetime! 

You’re Invited — Join us on December 1, 10:30 a.m. . at the 


information on this exciting 15 15-day day tour. No charge to attend but you 

must st RSV RSVP (limited seating) 905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004 -8004 

PERU — November 2010 

It’s the multicultural layers of great civilizations that make Peru, “Kingdom 

of the Sun,“ such an intriguing destination, and the perfect choice for a 

repeat tour in our series of eco-tours designed by Battlefi eld Travel. We 

invite you on a journey fi lled with ancient cultures and rich in colonial 

tradition. Enjoy the cosmopolitan city of Lima with its colonial balconies, old 

houses, churches and secret tunnels. Cuzco, the centre of the Inca Empire 

and Machu Picchu, recently voted as one of the new Seven Wonders of the 

World. Experience the wonders of the Nazca Lines. Join us for an adventure 

to a country of ancient cultures, great scenic contrasts, and perhaps the 

greatest treasure of the Americas, the “lost city” Machu Picchu. Don’t miss 

this opportunity to experience a melting pot of different cultures and 10,000 

years of history. 

You’re Invited — Join us on December 1, 1:30 p.m. at the 


information on this exciting 16-day tour. No charge to attend but you 

must ust RSV RSVP (limited seating) 905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004 8004 

JOIN US FOR OUR UNIWORLD SEMINAR 

Learn all about river cruising, an intimate, stylish, and sophisticated 

experience and a wonderful story of discovery, complete with easygoing 

comfort and convenience. There are always amazing things to see — 

scenic vineyards, historic castles, or countless UNESCO World Heritage 

sites — from the comfort of your stateroom. Seminar hosted by Battlefi eld 

Travel and our Uniworld orld Cruise expert, Helene. Uniwor Uniworld offers 26 expertly 

planned anned all-inclusive all-i river cruises ranging from 9 to 32 days. 

Wednesday, January 19 at 1:30 p.m. 

Where: Café Annex in RBG Centre, Royal Botanical Gardens, 

There eisno is o charg charge to attend the River Cruising seminar! But you must mu 

RSVP. Seating is limited. Call early to reserve your seat with Wendi or 

Shelley at Battlefi eld Travel, 905-662-6355 or toll free at 

1-866-574-8004 or email wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com 

Battlefi eld Travel is pleased to present these exciting tours. We 

continue to strive to provide participants with a high-quality 

tour at a leisurely pace. To book, inquire or to receive a detailed 

itinerary for any of these tours please call Wendi Gladstone 

or Shelley Boros at Battlefi eld Travel, 905-662-6355 or 

1-866-574-8004, or email wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com. 


ECO TOUR to 

Newfoundland 

and The Viking Trail 

July 2 to 13, 2010 

A 

BATTLEFIELD 

TRAVEL 

SIGNATURE 

TOUR 

Imagine an island where more 

than 300 species of birds and 22 

species of whales and dolphins 

make their home. Imagine a place 

where the oldest lighthouse has 

stood for 16 decades. Rich with history. Rife with culture. Sprawling with 

natural beauty. These wonders have been here for thousands of years. 

Newfoundlanders call their homeland The Rock— a good name for this 

craggy stone. Although the people are as tough as their rock, you will fi nd 

few who are more open, hospitable, warm, and friendly, nor with a better 

sense of humor. Where else would you fi nd towns named Jerry’s Nose, 

Blow Me Down, Come by Chance, or Heart’s Desire? Unusual place names 

aren’t Newfoundland’s only unique quality. Here you will fi nd rare 

geological phenomena, icebergs drifting past on a summer day, fjords with 

walls so steep you’d swear you were in Norway, and a language so 

different that it has its own dictionary. Where else in North America can 

you stand on the shore and see France? Take this opportunity with us to 

explore this mysterious land. Come with us to Newfoundland — craggy 

coastlines, timeless villages, amidst unspoiled nature. 

Your Newfoundland and The Viking Trail tour includes: 

• Westjet fl ight from Toronto to St. John’s and return from Deer Lake 

• Transportation throughout by luxury coach 

• 11 nights accommodation 

• All breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners (including taxes and gratuities) 

• Whale watching at Bay Bulls and at the icebergs at St. Lunaire 

• Visit to L’anse aux Meadows and Trinity National Historic Sites 

• A cruise on Bonne Bay 

• All sightseeing as per the itinerary — ask for your detailed copy 

• Escorted by Paul Attack 

Cost: $3,495 plus $395 tax 

Due to the nature of the group, the group size is limited to 

approximately 30 participants. To confi rm your spot on the tour 

please call Wendi or Shelley at Battlefi eld Travel, 

905-662-6355 or toll free at 1-866-574-8004 or email 

wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com. We will try to arrange single shares. 

You’re Invited — Join us on December 3, 10 0 a.m. at the 

CCafé f AAnnex, RBG CCentre, ffor a presentation i with i h all ll the h ddetails il and d 


RSVP (limit (limited seating) 905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004 


Battlefi eld Travel Tours 

To book or inquire about these tours please call Wendi 

Gladstone or Shelley Boros at Battlefi eld Travel, 905-662-6355 

or 1-866-574-8004, or email wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com. 


California Dreaming 

August 29 to September 6, 2010 

Cost: $3,445 * plus $250.00 tax 

California has it all! Misty redwood forests, an exceptionally verdant 

Central Valley teeming with agriculture, the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountain 

Range, eerily fascinating deserts, a host of world-renowned cities, a world 

famous wine country, and, of course, hundreds of miles of stunning Pacifi c 

Coastline. Our California Dreaming Tour starts in Napa Valley, continues to 

the spectacular coastal community of Monterey and the famous 17 mile 

drive at Pebble Beach. From Monterey we travel to Paso Robles in the 

south, through the Salinas Valley, on our way to the City by the Bay for a 2 

night stay in – San Francisco! Your escort for this tour will be well-known 

Gael Gallagher. 

Your tour includes: 

• Return airfare with Air Canada to San Francisco 

• 8 nights accommodation – 2 nights Napa and San Francisco, 1 night Paso 

Robles, 3 nights Monterey and all breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners 

• Winery Visits in Napa, tours include Monterey Bay Aquarium, Steinbeck 

Country Tour, 17 Mile Drive, Big Sur Coastline Drive, Salinas Valley 

highlights, San Francisco City Tour and Hearst Castle visit 

• Hosted throughout by Gael Gallagher 

* Land only tour cost available on request. Pay by cheque and receive $100. 

off per person. Pay in full by March 15 and receive an additional $50.00 

off per person. 

“The Algonquin” 

A Bus Tour to New Brunswick 

July 11 to 18, 2010 

Cost: TBA 

Back by popular demand! We are happy to offer, once again, “The 

Algonquin”: A bus tour to New Brunswick including 2 nights in Quebec City, 

5 nights at the famous Fairmont Algonquin Hotel in St. Andrews by-the-sea, 

and a stop in Magog Quebec on our return. The Algonquin Hotel, Atlantic 

Canada’s Premier Resort, hosts a combination of old world charm and 

modern facilities. Relax by the hotel’s heated outdoor pool, rent a bicycle, 

play golf on the Donald Ross designed 18-hole golf course, or take a walk 

into St. Andrew’s to shop or sightsee. Plus enjoy Quebec City, dinner at Aux 

Anciens Canadiens restaurant, day tours to Saint John, Fredericton, Fundy 

National Park, the Hopewell Rocks, and King’s Landing, and whale watching. 

Your tour includes: 

• Luxury coach charter from Hamilton and Burlington 

• 8 nights accommodation including 2 nights at the Clarendon Hotel in the 

heart of Old Quebec, 5 nights at the Fairmont Algonquin Hotel, and 1 

night in Magog Quebec 

• All breakfasts, 4 lunches and 6 dinners 

• Dinner at Aux Anciens Canadiens 

• Quebec City sightseeing tour, sightseeing days to Saint John and 

Fredericton to include King’s Landing, whale watching in St. Andrews and 

visit to Kingsbrae Gardens 


Auxiliary Christmas Sale 

Thursday, November 12; 1 to 8 p.m. 

Friday, November 13; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

Saturday, November 14; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

RBG Centre 

The annual Auxiliary Christmas Sale, a fundraising event 

for RBG, is the perfect way to kick start the holiday 

season. Purchase silk designs or create your own from a 

fabulous assortment of greenery and accessories. Highlights 

include fashion concepts for dress wear and tableware, 

demonstrations, and musical entertainment. Fresh evergreen 

urn inserts and greens are available for purchase. 

SPECIAL EVENTS: THURSDAY, 2 p.m. Fashion for Dress 

and Table, featuring outfi ts from Sunroom Boutique 

FRIDAY, 2 p.m. Put some Olé in your Christmas, 

food demonstration by Mary Luz Mejia, Gemininominated 

food journalist and TV producer 

SATURDAY, 2 p.m. The Circle of Harmony 

An a cappella chorus of 60 members 

CHRISTMAS CONCEPTS: On-going demonstrations by 

the Auxiliary’s workshop designers 

Auxiliary Evergreen 

Design Workshops 

Ho st t ed edd bby 

th the Au Auxi xili ili 

liar ary Wo rk ksh 

shop hop 

at a RB RBG Ce Cent ntre tre. 

Ea ch h 

work kshop 

h is i taught by 

an experiencedd designer d and 

yo your ur fifin 

nis ishe hed cr crea eati tion on wwil 

ill be a pro proud 

ud aach 

chie ieve veme ment nt. 

Ta Tabl bl ble de desi sign ign: 

Tu Tues esda day, Nov Novem 

embe ber 24 24; 1 or 7 p .m. m 

Do Door or des desig 

ign: n: Wed Wedne 

nesd sday ay, No Nove vemb mber er 225; 

5; 1 or o 7 p. p.m. m. 

COST: $30 per workshop which includes the container, 

fresh gr g eens, , and mechanics. Please bring g a gr g een 

ga garb rbag bage 

ba bag, g, wwir 

ire cu cutt tt tter ers, s, s sci ciss issor 

ors an and se seca cate teur urs. s. 

TI TICK CKET ETS: S: aava 

vail ilab able le oonl 

nlin ine at wwww 

ww.rbg rbg.ca, 

c oor 

ca call ll 

905-527-5577. We accept MasterCard and Visa. 

Purchase your tickets early to avo avoid vo void id 

disappointment.

BY NOW YOU’VE ALL HEARD the scientifi c consensus 

that human-induced climate change is inevitable and that 

the predicted changes will occur at a rate faster than many 

species and human settlements can adapt. Sadly, what’s 

rarely discussed by the popular media is how the expected 

changes in climate will specifi cally affect plants – our life 

support system. I fi nd this astonishing considering that 

plants affect all life and climate affects all plants. So why 

not give plants a little attention here? 

Before reviewing the climatic changes we can expect, let 

me fi rst start by saying the purpose of this article is not to 

induce fear and uncertainty, but rather to highlight how 

the climatic changes can greatly infl uence plants in our 

landscape, and also how important the fi elds of botany 

and horticulture will be in sustaining life as we know it. 

Earlier springs have already resulted in earlier 

fl owering times of about a week sooner on average. 

Over the last few years spring frosts have damaged 

fl owers, resulting in insuffi cient seed crops for many 

plants, including the endangered and ecologically 

and economically important butternut. 

Plants under 

a changing climate 

By Natalie Iwanycki 

Herbarium Curator 

and Field Botanist 

Based on the output from well-accepted global climate 

models, global temperatures are expected to rise 2.6 to 

3°C over the next 100 years. This might not sound like 

much, but to put this into context, it’s only 5°C warmer 

today than it was in the last ice age. Along with 

temperature, we are expecting carbon dioxide (CO 2) and 

ozone (O3) levels to rise across the globe — among many 

other changes. 

So what will conditions be like here in Ontario? And 

what will these mean for our wild and cultivated plants? 

The Heat is On: 

the threat of rising temperatures 

In Ontario an increase in temperature is predicted (keep 

in mind that in some locations around the world decreases 

are being predicted). In ten years time, temperatures in 

the province are expected to increase by 1.8 to 3.2°C, 

which is more than the increase we’ve experienced over the 

last hundred years! We’ll see an increase in precipitation, yet 

the current water balance will not be maintained. Evapotranspiration 

rates will be greater than water coming into 

the system due to higher temperatures and increased wind 

speeds. We’ll also see more extreme weather events 

including heat waves, droughts, severe storms, fl ash 


fl oods, and wildfi res — many of which we’re already 

experiencing in the province. Interestingly enough, it is 

thought that these impacts are going to be greater in 

winter than in summer, and that the impacts will be 

greater in the north than in the south of the province (but 

it’s not to say that we won’t feel the impacts here). 

What do these changes mean for our plants? With the 

predicted increases in temperature, and increases in CO 2, 

and O 3, the plants in our natural areas will shift, and the 

plants we select for our gardens will also change over time 

based on which species will benefi t and which will lose 

under the changing conditions. 

It is suggested that the direct effects of temperature 

change on plants species would be larger than any other 

factor. Increased temperature can increase plant growth 

up to a point, beyond which death occurs. Plants that are 

most sensitive to heat may be lost from our pallet — in 

both natural and cultivated spaces — at least in the forms 

we know them in today. 

Increases in temperature will promote earlier springs and 

later autumns. Extended growing seasons will benefi t many 

of our familiar plants, at least in the short term, plus the 

diversity of plant species that can be grown in this area may 

increase. Yet unpredictable weather such as sudden frosts 

after periods of warmth and new and more frequent pest 

outbreaks will affect plants, and will no doubt introduce 

new challenges for natural land stewards and gardeners 

alike. For instance, earlier springs have already resulted in 

earlier fl owering times of about a week sooner on average. 

Over the last few years spring frosts have damaged fl owers, 

resulting in insuffi cient seed crops for many plants, including 

the endangered and ecologically and economically important 

butternut ( (Juglans cinerea). 

The propagation and conservation 

of plants we currently rely on for environmental, 

aesthetic, or economic reasons may prove to be a challenge 

for the next generation of conservation horticulturists. 


Under the pressures of climate change, wild plants, 

like many other living organisms, will have three 

options: adapt to new environmental conditions, 

migrate to appropriate conditions, or become extinct. 

The Carbon Dioxide Catch-22: 

too much good is bad 

As with temperature increases, with elevated CO 2 some 

plants will benefi t and some will suffer. Increased 

atmospheric CO2 can increase plant productivity, just as 

long as no other factors, such as water or nutrients, are 

limiting. As plants grow more quickly under increased 

CO2 they will likely require more nutrient input such as 

nitrogen. The amount of nutrient minerals available will 

become increasingly important. There is some evidence 

that increased CO2 may allow plants to become more 

water effi cient by reducing transpiration rates, however, 

reduced water fl ow through the plant could interfere with 

the ability of plants to cool their local environment 

resulting in a decline of a very important ecosystem 

service — natural air conditioning. 

Increased CO 2 could increase growth and yield rates for 

many plants, yet the faster growing plants may be of 

poorer quality. For example, wood and other 

economically important plant fi bres may decline in 

quality, and more will be needed to produce the products 

we rely on. Faster growing trees will be more susceptible 

to damage caused by wind and storms, increasing the 

need for hazard tree management in our landscape. Even 

in today’s climate, fast growing trees such as willows 

(Salix spp.) and poplars (Populus spp.) tend to crack and 

break under high winds. Lower nutritional value in the 

leaves, fl owers, fruits, and roots may also decrease. As the 

quality decreases, more would have to be consumed — 

therefore more plant material would have to be grown for 

both humans and herbivores.

Adapt or Die 

Under the pressures of climate change, wild plants, like 

many other living organisms, will have three options: 

adapt to new environmental conditions, migrate to 

appropriate conditions, or become extinct. The fossil 

record suggests that species have been able to adapt or 

migrate in response to past climate change, but this was in 

a natural landscape. The landscape in southern Ontario is 

severely fragmented and pressures such as this and 

pollution are also affecting wild plants. In addition, in the 

coming decades, climatic change is forecasted to occur at 

unprecedented rates. 

Let’s consider trees in our area. Many live for 200 to 300 

years, yet a huge change is expected in the next 30 to 40 

years. Our tree species are estimated to migrate a little 

under one kilometre per year, yet climatic shift is 

predicted to move northward at approximately three 

kilometres per year in Ontario. If trees cannot produce 

viable seed and/or can no longer coordinate seed ripening 

with their co-dependent seed dispersers, they may not get 

to new locations under the predicted conditions without 

our assistance. Like in past global changes, climate will 

change, but most soil and site conditions won’t. Even if 

plants are able to readily migrate (i.e. trees that rely on 

wind for their dispersal), they may not get to their 

preferred site conditions. 

There is evidence that plants are already responding, or in 

some cases not, to climate change. While examining a 

phenology dataset from Massachusetts that spans 

approximately 150 years, scientists found that fl owering 

time response to temperature is shared among closely 

related plant species, and that species that do not respond 

to temperature were found to decrease in abundance since 

1850, including anemones and buttercups, asters and 

campanulas, bluets, bladderworts, dogwoods, lilies, mints, 

orchids, saxifrages, and violets. This gives us a good idea 

of what plants may be most sensitive to changes brought 

about by a warming climate, at least in natural 

environments. Such plants may require human 

intervention if they are to remain in our landscape. 

In the coming decades, our landscapes will be shaped by 

the plants that respond positively to increased 

temperature and CO 2, and the new plant varieties and 

cultivars developed in coming years to perform better 

under the new conditions. I think you’ll agree that the art 

and science of cultivating plants will become increasingly 

important in the coming years. The world’s biodiversity, 

including the diversity of human life, will depend on our 

ability as botanists and horticulturists to maintain healthy 

plant species and communities. To quote my colleague 

Alex Henderson, as natural spaces in our area continue to 

shrink and face the additional pressures of a rapidly 

changing climate, our garden spaces will increasingly 

fulfi ll vital roles for the conservation of biodiversity and 

the provision of ecosystem services. 


No H20! 

No BLOW! 

Royal Botanical Gardens is a work 

in progress. Here is a sneak peak at 

the Aldershot Escarpment Garden, 

from hole in the ground to jewel in 

the crown 


Planting No MOW! 

One week separated the opening of No MOW! No 

BLOW! No H20! and Stedman Exploration Hall. Seven 

short days between the unveiling of two major 

installations. As you can imagine, RBG was a buzzing little 

hive of activity. 

No MOW! No BLOW! No H2O! 

Thursday, September 10, 2009: These three distinctive 

gardens are designed to reduce your carbon footprint 

while still letting you make a size-13 style impression on 

your neighbours (and planet Earth) 

The launch wasn’t your average garden party: more than 

100 people noshed on gourmet pizza and end-of-summer 

beer in the front yard. And the weather played along 

nicely. Folks lingered for hours.

PlantWatch — Help track climate change 

Opération � oraison – Aidez-nous à surveiller 

les changements climatiques 

What is PlantWatch? 

Opération � oraison, qu’est-ce ? 

Pl Plan antW tWat atch ch iis 

s aa na nattiion onal vol o un unte teer e mon on onit itor orin ing g 

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th that at mmay 

ay a bbe 

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e 

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ture r bet etwe ween en NNatur ur u e e Canada da pr pr pppp oog ogramm mme e fait it ppar 

arti tie e d’Attent ntio ion n Na Natu ture r , entr trep epri risse men enée ée 

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t En En EEEEE vi viro ronn nnem emen ent t Ca Cana nada d . 

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sst st dd’e 

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en ennvironn nnem em emen en ent na natu tu ture rel chan an ange ge ge. 

PlantWatching has a long tradition 

and rich history. 

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turn rn rned ed plantwatchi hi hi hing int nt nt nto o a a sy sy s st s em em em ematticc sciienccce 

ce ce ce. 

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weat athe her r insttru rume meent n s! 

Carl aaa Linnaeus 

L’observation des plantes a une longue 

histoire riche en traditions. 

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You can make a difference! 

By participating in PlantWatch, you can learn more about our country’s 

botanical diversity, while helping scientists track the effects of global warming 

and climate change in Canada. Simply record � owering times for selected plant 

species and report these dates to researchers through the Internet or by mail. 

When you submit your data electronically, it’s added instantly to Web maps 

showing bloom dates across Canada, so your observations make a difference 

right away! 

Apportez votre contribution ! 

En participant à Opération � oraison, vous en apprendrez davantage sur la 

diversité botanique de notre pays tout en aidant des scienti� ques à suivre la 

progression des effets du réchauffement de l’atmosphère et des changements 

climatiques au Canada. C’est simple : observez la période de � oraison 

d’espèces de plantes sélectionnées, et communiquez ces dates à des 

chercheurs par le biais d’Internet ou par courrier. Quand vous présentez vos 

données par voie électronique, elles sont ajoutées instantanément à des cartes 

sur notre site internet montrant les dates des � oraisons à travers le Canada ; 

ainsi, vos observations sont prises en considération immédiatement ! 

How to PlantWatch 

1. Pi Pick jus ust t on one or or ttwo 

plant nt sspe 

peci cies es tto o observe from the PlantWatch list. 

Choose se sspe 

peci cime mens ns that ar are grow o ing in an easy-to-access, � at area. 

2. 2. Labe bel l yo yourr ppla 

lant nt ( (or or patch of plants) wi with t a plastic or metal tag so you are 

co con� n� den ent t yo youu ar are e ob obse serving the same me pla l nts on each visit, and from year 

to to yyea 

ear. 

3. 3. St Star art t wa watc tchi hing ng yyou 

our r pl p ants closely in spring, checking ng ffor or swelling � ower 

bu buds. Determine th the e la lati titude and longitude of the plant t lo location and record 

the date when yo your ur ppla 

lant nt reaches � rst bloom. (For most pl p ants, � rst bloom 

is is when the � rst t � �ow ower ers s op open en, re r ve v allin ing the stamens inside.) 

4. 4. 4. 4. 4.... Su Subm b itt you our resultts s vi via a in inte tern rnet or mail il. 

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Early spring? 

Some spring wild� owers 

are � owering almost 

a month earlier than 

they were a century 

ago! Scientists believe 

climate change is 

affecting blooming 

times and predict that 

the greatest increases 

in temperature will be in 

Western and Northern 

Canada, while some 

parts of Eastern Canada 

actually may be cooling. 

Printemps précoce ? 

Certaines espèces de plantes 

sauvages � eurissent près d’un 

mois plus tôt qu’il y a un siècle ! 

Les scienti� ques pensent que 

les changements climatiques 

ont des conséquences sur les 

périodes de � oraison et ils 

prévoient que les plus fortes 

augmentations de température 

se manifesteront à l’ouest et 

au nord du Canada, alors que 

certaines parties de l’est du 

Canada sont, en fait, peut-être 

en train de se refroidir. 

What plants are we watching? 

Each province and territory has their own list 

of plants to monitor. Ontario’s PlantWatch 

species include: 

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) 

raisin d’ours 

Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)* 

tussilage pas-d’âne 

Common purple lilac (Syringa vulgaris)* 

lilas commun 

Red maple (Acer rubrum) 

érable rouge 

TewyGNUFDL 

Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) 

peuplier faux-tremble 

Georg Slickers 

Jeff McMillian 

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) 

achillée millefeuille 

Blue-bead lily (Clintonia borealis) 

clintonie boréale 

Dandelion (Taraxacum of� cinale)* 

pissenlit 

May� ower (Epigaea repens) 

Épigée rampante 

Star-� ower (Trientalis borealis) 

trientale boréale 

Silsor GNUFDL 

White trillium (Trillium grandi� orum) 

trille blanc 

Wlater Siegmund 

Twin� ower (Linnaea borealis) 

linnée boréale 

Quelles plantes surveillons-nous ? 

Chaque province ou territoire possède sa propre liste de 

plantes à surveiller. Pour l’Ontario, la liste Opération � oraison 

est la suivante : 

M.de Graaf 

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) 

quatre-temps 

Weeping forsythia (Forsythia suspensa)* 

forsythia pleureur 

Kim Hansen 

Mountain avens (Dryas integrifolia) 

dryade 

Stan Shebs 

Star-� owered Solomon’s seal 

(Maianthemum stellatum) 

smilacine étoilée 

White water lily (Nymphaea odorata) 

nymphéa odorant 

Kim Hansen Sheri Hagwood @ USDA-NRCS Plants Database 

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) 

cerisier de Virginie 

Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum) 

thé du Labrador 

Purple saxifrage (Saxifraga oppositifolia) 

saxifrage à feuilles opposées 

Tamarack (Larix laricina) 

mélèze laricin 

Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) 

fraisier sauvage 

Plant etiquette 

Please do not collect wild� owers. This 

weakens the plants and robs them of the energy 

needed to bloom the following year. Wild� owers are best 

enjoyed in their native habitat! 

Question d’éthique 

Veuillez ne pas cueillir de � eurs sauvages. Cela affaiblit les 

plantes et leur enlève l’énergie dont elles ont besoin 

pour � eurir l’année suivante. C’est dans leur habitat 

d’origine qu’on les apprécie le mieux. 

* non-native species/ 

espèces non-indigènes 

PlantWatchpanel0809.indd 1 31/08/09 1:28 PM 

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WHILE DRAMATIC WEATHER PATTERNS are a hot 

topic of conversation (and a theme well explored in this 

issue), I’ve had a different sort of climate change on my 

mind lately: the changing emotional climate connected 

with adjustments to the trail system at RBG over the past 

several years. Talk about a hot topic. 

CONSERVATION COLUMN 

The least bittern (status: nationally threatened) 

is one of many benefactors of the wetland 

restoration program. Several were heard from 

the marsh boardwalk trail during 2009 

THE PATH TO CHANGE 

To put things in perspective, one of our roles as 

a botanical garden is to protect native species. 

Essentially, with our conservation lands, we are 

a huge, living museum that simply cannot leave 

its collections to fend for themselves. At the 

same time we don’t want to shut our visitors and 

members away from those plants and animals that 

call RBG home. It’s a daily balancing act between 

nature and visitor. 

To give RBG’s biodiversity a fi ghting chance, we 

regularly close some trails to protect sensitive 

species, and open (or reopen) new trails where life 

is more secure. And this is where emotions heat 

up. People don’t like change, and I’ve received 


my fair share of angry letters and emails from people 

upset that their old favourite walking spot is suddenly off 

limits. Once we explain the purpose of the changes, most 

folks understand. Some, of course, cannot be placated. 

But the reality is, RBG isn’t a simple public park with 

benches and paths. It is sanctuary for native species, and 

any changes required to protect those plants and animals 

will always be our primary focus. 

And that approach is paying off. As a result of the trail 

alterations, several species have reappeared, including 

the exciting reemergence of the yellow lady slipper 

(Cypripedium calceolus), once lost from the property. 

Lately we’ve seen black terns in the area, suggesting 

that this species may reestablish a breeding population 

here. As well, white pelicans are becoming a common 

visitor, along with tundra swans. Fox and mink have 

reappeared, and along with our recently established pair 

of bald eagles, are naturally rebalancing the populations 

of things like Canada geese, double crested cormorants 

and raccoons. 

Gerard Mc Naughton

Tÿs Theÿsmeÿer 

Acting Head of Conservation 

One of the major 

emotional hot 

buttons revolved 

around the trail 

changes associated 

with the bald eagles, 

and our changes to 

the Hopkins Loop 

and Grey Doe trails. 

Ultimately, we found 

a way to alter the Hopkins Loop system using one of the 

ad hoc c trails in an adjacent pine plantation. The resulting 

trail is 1.3 km long rather than 1.9 km, but maintains the 

impressive ridge lookout into the Borers Creek Valley. 

Eventually we’ll shift the Grey Doe trail up the valley 

to an alternate location where an older, more scenic and 

better connected RBG trail once existed. 

Aside from being home to our eagles, Cootes Paradise 

features several other endangered species such as the 

least bittern, prothonatory warbler and Blanding’s turtle. 

During the fall, dozens of species of northern water 

birds stop in for a rest on the delta’s mud fl ats, while 

the hillsides are fi lled with warblers. Wild rice (Zizania 

aquatica) once again grows naturally in this area. This is 

all underpinned by continuing our wetland restoration 

program and making sure there is space to abate the 

threats to biodiversity. 

While it sometimes seems like the trails system has been 

dramatically changed from the good old days, the length 

and varieties of trails have remained fairly consistent 

over the years. In terms of infrastructure, we have 25 km 

of trails, 17 access points, seven boardwalks, 14 bridges, 

three towers, and 20 lookout points, getting the visitor 

into nearly every nook and cranny of the 900 hectares. 

And there’s two more to come: we expect to reopen a 

pair of trails in the Arboretum this fall, and one more at 

Sassafras Point next spring. 

And the hiking is still magnifi cent. My pick for a fall 

hike is the 1.5 km walk to either the George North or 

Marsh Boardwalk observation towers, both located on 

the north shore of Cootes Paradise. My favourite route 

starts at the Arboretum through the magnolias, down 

Hickory Valley trail and then the Captain Cootes trail. 

Both towers overlook the outer edge of one of largest 

creek delta marsh areas on the Great Lakes, the Spencer 

Creek delta. This delta is almost 100 hectares in size, and 

is our principle biodiversity protection area. Much of the 

With trail realignment and a bit of luck, 

yellow lady slipper orchids have reappeared 

in the sanctuaries. The associated trail 

changes were initiated in 1996 

delta has trail and road infrastructure on it, and as a result 

the delta can be visited from the back of Cootes Paradise 

by using the RBG Spencer Creek trail, the Hamilton 

Conservation Authority rail trail, or by canoe down 

the creek. 

In the near future it’s my hope that an ever-greater 

number of the visitors will have the opportunity to 

experience more of the biodiversity that once thrived 

across the region, and that even the rarest, most sensitive 

species will fi nd a future in our sanctuaries. Balance. 

One fi nal note, if you are aware of unusual plants such as 

orchids within RBG’s sanctuaries, please contact RBG’s 

fi eld botanist at ext 238 or by email niwanyki@rbg.ca. 


Back to nature 

JUST BECAUSE SUMMER IS OVER (um, anybody 

remember it actually starting?), and there’s not a day on 

your family calendar where there isn’t something going 

on, doesn’t mean outdoor activity has to disappear from 

your child’s life. Instead of letting them cocoon this 

winter, get them outdoors at RBG! 

As most members know, we’re 

working on a project to bring many 

different organizations together to 

help build capacity to get more 

kids outside. Research shows that 

children who spend more time in 

contact with the natural world are 

healthier, happier and smarter, and, 

Barbara McKean they grow up with a stronger sense 

Head of Education 

of stewardship for the natural world. 

For over 60 years our education 

programs have been all about making those natural 

connections, and we’re expanding our offering in the 

coming year – what a great way to celebrate International 

Year for Biological Diversity in 2010! 


With the support of the RBG Auxiliary, we’ll be 

offering guided nature walks for families every Sunday 

afternoon, beginning on Sunday, January 3. Watch our 

website and public program calendar (see page P6 for 

our “Get Back to Nature” meeting spots. These walks 

are free of charge, but donations are welcome). 

Families will also enjoy our “Family Winter Fun 

Nights.” Explore the things that go bump in the dark on 

a guided hike, then cozy up to our campfi re for songs 

and marshmallows afterwards. See page P12. 

Sign your kids up for our Discovery Day Camps in 

December. Leave the kids with us any day between 

December 21 to 23 and/or 28 to 31. Either way, they’ll be 

immersed in the world of nature for the day. Online 

registration is at www.rbg.ca, and spaces fi ll up quickly. 

Parents, teachers and youth leaders can learn more 

about taking kids outdoors by participating in our 

introductory “Sharing Nature with Kids” workshop on 

November 21. See page P12. 

Keep your eye on our website and program guides as we 

bring people and the natural world together. 

Looking k for th the perfect f gift ift 

ffor 

a famil f ily — 

ho how ab abou out a bi bigg gger er bbac 

acky kyar ard? d? 

Gi Give ve a Roy Royal 

al Bot Botan 

anic ical al Gar Garde 

dens ns’ fa fami mily ly 

member b ship h providi iding 

ffree 

year-round d admission i to t 

mo more re ttha 

han 10 10-squ squar 

are ki kilo lome metr tres es oof 

ga gard rden ens an and tr trai ails ls, 

en ensu suri ring ng sspe 

pe p ct ctac acul ular ar sig sight 

hts an and ou outd tdoo oor ex expe pe p ri rien ence ces 

for every family on your gift list. Get out and play. 

Or Orde der to toda day at 9905 

05-5 -527 27-1 -115 158, ext ext. 

22 229 or ins insta 

tant ntly ly 

at www www.r 

.rbg bg.c .ca. a. 

Be a Member/Get a Member Bonus Offer 

Members are our greatest asset and our best ambassadors. 

We are now rewarding all new RBG members with a free day pass so you can introduce a guest to Roya y l 

Bo Bota tani nica cal Ga Gard rden ens. WWe’ 

e re als also 

re rewa ward rdin ing ex exis isti ting ng mmem 

embe bers rs wwho 

ho hel help 

us sig sign 

up a new 

mem membe 

ber — if you 

re refe fer a 

new member, we’ll send you a FREE day pass too! So spread the news and share RBG with your friends. Be 

su sure re tto 

te tell ll you your 

fr frie iend nds to llet 

et uus 

kn know ow yyou 

ou ref refer 

erre red th them em!

February 6 to April 11, 2010 

Camilla and Peter Dalglish g Atrium, 

RBG Centre 

AMAZON VOYAGE: VICIOUS FISHES AND OTHER RICHES was produced 

by the Miami Science Museum. The exhibit was made possible with 

support from the National Science Foundation. Artwork by Ray Troll. 

SPECIAL PROGRAMS — at RBG Centre, full details on page P15 of the Public Programs 

FAMILY DAY SPECIAL: A NIGHT ON THE AMAZON, Saturday, February 13; 7 p.m. to Sunday, February 14; 11a.m. 

(this program suitable for children ages 4 and up) 

AMAZON EXPLORERS CLUB, Saturdays, February 20 and 27 OR Saturdays, March 13 and 20; 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

FISH FROM THE AMAZON: SETTING UP YOUR HOME AQUARIUM, Wednesday, March 10; 7 to 9 p.m. 

FROM THE BOREAL TO THE AMAZON: The tropical side of Ontario’s songbirds, Wednesday, March 24; 7:30 to 9 p.m. 

DRAWING ANIMALS OF THE AMAZON, Sunday, March 28; 1:30 to 3 p.m. 

Sink your teeth into this! 

Explore the seven perils of the Amazon River. 

Encounter live piranhas and sleek stingrays. 

Engage in interactive displays, special programs 

and more. 

REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS AND FRESH WATER FISH FROM THE TROPICS, Thursday, March 4; 7:30 to 9 p.m. 


Battlefi eld Travel 

To book or inquire about this tour please call Wendi Gladstone or 

Shelley Boros at Battlefi eld Travel, 905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004, 

or email wendi@battlefi eldtravel.com. 


Nobody does Bermuda like Battlefi eld Travel 

Bermuda Spring Getaways 

March 23 to 30 or March 30 to April 6, 2010 

If you’ve decided that Bermuda sounds like the perfect place to relax, feel 

free to start unwinding right now, because we’ve done all the legwork for 

you. Only a short 2½ hour plane ride from Toronto, Bermuda is a great place 

to either do a lot or just relax and enjoy the “dolce far niente.” There are a 

multitude of attractions to inform and entertain you — from small museums 

and art galleries to spectacular caves and large historic fortifi cations. For 

history buffs, there are historic buildings and houses and impressive 

well-preserved forts. Visit the old town of St George’s, now formally 

designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, for its historic signifi cance 

and authenticity. The Grotto Bay Beach Resort, a deluxe hotel, is nestled 

amid 21 acres of beautifully landscaped ocean-front grounds, offering a 

private beach with two secluded coves. All of our ocean view rooms are 

beautifully appointed. Full breakfast and gourmet dinner (run of the menu) 

are included every day – not to mention a bus pass for your one week-stay, 

so getting around Bermuda is a breeze! 

Spring Bermuda Getaways at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort include: 

• Round trip Air Canada fl ights 

• Accommodation in a tastefully appointed 

ocean-view room with balcony or patio 

• Full breakfast, gourmet dinner, and daily 

afternoon tea with a selection of pastries 

• Arrival cocktail party and slide show by 

local historian and ecologist Tim Rogers 

• Use of all beach facilities, fresh water swimming pool 

• Bus pass for your week’s stay 

• All hotel taxes and all gratuities, transfers in Bermuda 

• Fully escorted 

Cost Spring Getaways: 

$2,298 one week per person double occupancy plus $365 tax; 

$3,835 two weeks per person double occupancy plus $365 tax 

Special Bermuda Tea 

Join us for a special afternoon “Bermuda Tea” 

Thursday, December 3, 1:30 p.m. in the Auditorium A, RBG Centre 

and learn about the beautiful Island of Bermuda and the Grotto Bay 

Beach Hotel with Battlefi eld Travel and the Bermuda Department of 

Tourism. Get information on our new November 2010 Tour — Bermuda 

Private Homes & Garden Tour. Find out all the details for this 

brand new tour led by Tim Rogers, local Bermuda historian and 

ecologist. Show special for attendees! No charge 

to attend but you must RSVP (limited seating) 

905-662-6355 or 1-866-574-8004 


Tribute and 

Memorial Giving 

Tribute gifts are a meaningful way to honour loved 

ones and to mark special occasions. All our 

cultivated and natural lands are held in trust for 

future generations and each tribute gift has a 

lasting impact, helping to preserve and grow 

Royal Botanical Gardens. 

GIFTS RECEIVED JULY THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2009 

Royal Botanical Gardens is grateful for gifts 

made in honour of: 

Tricia and Doug Bellamy 

Bill and Cecelia Farrell 

Judith Kelly 

Julian Mulcaster 

Ruth L. Walker 

Gifts were received in memory of: 

Mr. Adamiec 

Patrick Colgan 

Joseph DeLuca 

Bill Dunning 

Tanya Grah 

Joanne Hawrylyshyn 

Nan and Douglas Irvine 

Ross Johnston 

Patricia Mills 

John J. Molnar 

Wilfrid T. Morris 

Joan Mudge 

Terry Newman 

Andrew Oakes 

Voldemar Riimand 

Margaret Robertson 

Walter Thurgood 

Ruth L. Walker 

Margo Wilson 

Dragica Zeljeznjak 

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of these lists 

and we apologize for any errors or omissions. To make a 

correction or to learn more about our Tribute and Memorial 

Giving program, contact Kerri Withers at 905-527-1158, ext. 290, 

or visit www.rbg.ca.

Kathy Ward 

Mary Edwards Elaine Harvey 

Mary Gilmore 

Sue Perrin 

Barbara Philps 

Bill Bright 

The Never-Ending 

RBG Photo Contest 

CONGRATULATIONS TO: 

FLORA WINNER: Kathy Ward 

Runners up: Mary Edwards and Elaine Harvey 

FAUNA WINNER: Mary Gilmore 

Runners up: Bill Bright and Barbara Philps 

FAMILY WINNER: Sue Perrin 

Runners up: Karin Lang and Jim Platten 

Karin Lang Jim Platt tt tten en e 

Keep ‘em coming: Give us your 

best shot … and we’ll show it to all 

our friends 

Winning photos are published in a coming 

issue of Paradise Found. The current prizes are 

bragging rights, but that could change. 

CATEGORIES 

FLORA: plant life is our stock in trade — it’s 

everywhere at RBG. Be creative as you try to 

put a new spin on an ageless subject. 

FAUNA: from snapping turtles to bald eagles, 

RBG is a safe-haven for thousands of creatures. 

Please DO NOT DISTURB the wildlife while you 

capture their essence. 

FAMILY: RBG is a people-friendly place, full of 

discovery and amazement. Capture that joy 

and share it with the wider RBG family. 

RULES 

This contest is open to amateur photographers only. 

RBG staff and family members of staff are prohibited 

from entry. All entries become the property of RBG 

and may be used in future publications, including 

Paradise Found, the website and in RBG marketing 

materials. Whenever a photo is used for anything 

other than the contest, the photographer is notifi ed. 

Please send entries digitally to loliver@rbg.ca. 

Winners and runners-up will be asked to supply 

high-resolution versions for publication. 


RBG BY THE NUMBERS 

An at-a-glance look at some 

of the statistics that help make 

Royal Botanical Gardens what it is. 

There are more than 50 species-at-risk that 

call RBG home. The Gardens strives, in the 

face of climate change and urban pressures, 

to create a safe haven for this impressive slice 

of biodiversity. 

(In the case of the turtles listed, the number 

represents the unique individual turtles seen 

here over the past ten years) 

3 Eastern spiney softshell 

(status: threatened) 

1GROUPING few-fl owered club rush 

(status: endangered) — the only 

population in all of Canada 

3. G. Magnolia 

4. E. Ginkgo biloba 

5. C. Fagus sylvatica 

6. B. Prunus 

7. F. Trachycarpus fortunei 


Answers from page 7, A 

Warmer climate in 

Canada? 

1. D. Molinia caerulea 

2. A. Rhus radicans 

7Blanding’s turtle 


200+map turtle 

(species of concern) 

2 stinkpot (aka musk turtle) 


150 TREES red mulberry 

(status: endangered) — the 

largest population of red 

mulberry in one place in Canada

©adfinity 

We are proud to be 

a next door neighbour 

and supporter of the 

world-famous 

Royal Botanical Gardens. 

1010 Botanical Drive 

Burlington, ON L7T 1V1 

(905) 527-0405 

BayGardens.ca 

MONTHLY MEETINGS 

ORCHID SOCIETY 

OF ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS 

November 15, December 20, 

January 17 

RBG Centre, 680 Plains Road West, Burlington 

There are refreshments and orchid plants for sale as 

well as a talk on orchid-related subjects. 

ADMISSION IS FREE — Hope to see you there! 

Have your insurance rates gone up? 

Novex – your group insurance specialist 

Call today and fi nd out about our preferred group 

insurance rates available to you through Novex! 

Thanks to our partnership with RBG, you can always 

expect outstanding service, expert advice and 

preferred pricing when you call Novex. Join the group 

and call us today! 

Client Service Guarantee* 

Another reason to be part of the group. In an 

emergency situation, you will be put in contact with 

a claims representative within 30 minutes — or we 

will write you a cheque for the amount of your 

annual premium up to a maximum of $1000. 

• Discount for insuring both auto and home 

• Multi car discount 

• No interest monthly payments 

* Certain conditions apply 

Please be aware that not everyone will qualify for a phone quote. 

INSURANCE CENTRAL 

LIMITED 

PHONE: 905 628 2221 

TOLL FREE: 1 866 628 2221 

FAX: 905 628 4208 

www.insurancecentrallimited.ca 

Business 

in paradise 

Underwritten by 

Novex Insurance Company 

Royal Botanical Gardens is your natural choice for meetings, 

retreats, seminars and conferences in a one-of-a-kind setting 

fo for gr grou oups ps 550 

to 5500 

00. 

Services include: 

R Roo oom re rent ntal als an and am amen enit itie ies — au audi dio vi visu sual al eequ 

quip ipme ment nt, la lapt ptop ops, 

LCDs, internet connection, vid ideo conferencing, etc. 

Team-building activities — nature tours, workshops, hiking, etc. 

F Foo ood an and be beve vera rage ge bby 

aw awar ardd-wi 

winn nnin ing ch chef efs of PPep 

eppe perw rwoo ood Ca Cate teri ring ng 

& Special Events. A variety y of menu pa p ckages available for wedding 

receptions, corporate meetings, and social events 

A sk k about t our corporate membershi hip offers. f 

Book k your meeting t retreat toda y! ! 9905 

05-527 527-115 

1158, 

1 1-800 800-694 

694-476 

4769 

RB RBG Ce Cent ntre re, 68 680 Pl Plai ains ns RRoa 

oad We West st, Ha Hami milt lton on/B /Bur urli ling ngto ton 

Now taking bookings for the Camilla and Peter Dalglish Atrium

Royal Botanical Gardens is changing the world, one small step at 

a time. But we can’t do it alone. Please walk with us.

facing climate change - Royal Botanical Gardens

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