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The Eastern Calligrapher Hover Fly Toxomerus geminatus June 20, 2026 ​ The fascinating life of the hover fly, also known as a flower fly is an imitator of the bee. This insect is classified as a true fly (Diptera) but unlike bees, it only has two wings. It can also be identified by its large eyes that are closely set together, and a shorter, stubbier antennae. ​ A hover fly (family Syrphidae) is much older on the evolutionary scale than bees, though it has evolved to mimic th

Have you ever wondered where bumblebees spend their winters? Every spring, just around this time, I think about this a lot - especially while watching and waiting for them to emerge from winter hibernation. And sometimes, I begin to worry, just a little. What if something happened over winter? What if there are no bumblebees this year? Perhaps they didn't survive the winter? Follow along and enjoy the read. And come back soon. Hopefully I will have some updates on the elusive

Virginia Waterleaf flower with Bumblebee On Wednesday May 10, 2023 I had the privilege of speaking at the monthly meeting for the Muskoka Parry Sound Beekeepers Association. Local beekeepers Trish and Steve invited me to speak about plants native to the Muskoka region. It was a pleasure being amongst a group of such dedicated beekeepers; the meeting was well attended and I enjoyed sharing my love of nature with the group. For the talk, I prepared a list of over 50 plants tha

The health benefits of being in nature have been well documented, and most of us have accepted that being physically active and breathing in clean, fresh air is good for us. But what about what's happening beneath the surface? Have you ever noticed that after a walk in nature or anywhere outdoors, that you feel energized? Is it possible, that the impact of colour and light is affecting us on a physiological level? If so, the concept is known as chromotherapy. It's theory is