From Unusual Facts:

Discovered by ecologist Burton Barnes, Utah’s famous “Pando” grove stands as one of the heaviest and oldest living organisms on Earth. Spanning over 100 acres, its 47,000 quaking aspen trunks are genetically identical clones connected entirely by a single massive root system.

From Saving Monarchs:

From Foraging for Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Hedgewitchery Herbs

Reminder-Fawn Season ****Don’t be a fawnnapper! It’s very common for moms to leave babies for the day while they forage. It’s their hope that if they leave it near humans that it will help keep predators away. Doe will often hide fawns near your home or even right outside your home. The mother visits very briefly only a couple times a day to feed the fawn and move it to a new location. If humans or pets are around, most Does stay away from their fawn to avoid drawing attention to its location and return when the threat has passed. Please keep pets leashed when walking by tall grassed these nest few weeks.

From Thefarmacyreal:

Dr. Qing Li, a Japanese-based immunologist originally from China, dedicated over two decades to scientifically validating the healing power of nature through the practice of shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing”. His pioneering research focused on phytoncides, which are natural antimicrobial compounds and essential oils released by trees like cedars and pines to protect themselves from insects and disease. Through rigorous clinical studies, Dr. Li demonstrated that when humans inhale these airborne chemicals during a walk in the woods, the compounds enter the bloodstream and trigger profound physiological changes. His work effectively bridged the gap between ancient intuitive wisdom and modern biological science, proving that the forest acts as a natural medicine cabinet.

Dr. Li’s breakthrough findings revealed that these plant chemicals actively hunt down and reduce stress hormones while simultaneously supercharging the human immune system. His testing showed that exposure to phytoncides significantly decreases levels of cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the body. More importantly, his 20 years of research proved that breathing in the forest air dramatically boosts the activity and number of natural killer (NK) cells, a type of white blood cell vital for fighting off viruses and tumor cells. Remarkably, Dr. Li discovered that a single two-day trip to a forest could enhance NK cell activity for up to 30 days, providing conclusive evidence that trees physically alter our blood chemistry to fight stress and disease.

From Saving Monarchs:

Want to attract more butterflies to your garden? Make a simple hydration puddling dish!

Butterflies can’t get all the minerals they need from nectar alone. They often gather around mud puddles to sip water and absorb essential salts and nutrients—a behavior called “puddling.”

To make your own butterfly puddling station:

• Use a shallow dish or plant saucer

• Fill it with sand, soil, or small pebbles

• Keep it moist with water

• Place it in a sunny spot near flowers

It’s an easy way to support butterflies during the hot summer months while giving you a front-row seat to watch them up close!

There are a lot of events happening in the area to help promote awareness of nature and conservation. We’re happy to share a number of them. Check out our Facebook page for more information.

Seed Change for Systems Change – June 18 from noon to 2 p.m. – via ZOOM

Pond Exploration – 1424 Clarke Rd, London, Ontario – July 2 at 10:30 a.m.

Speaking of Wildlife at Pittock! – Pittock Conservation Area – July 11 at 1 p.m.

Owl Prowl at Fanshawe CA – 1424 Clarke Rd, London, Ontario – July 15 at 8:30 p.m.

Bug Safari at Fanshawe CA – 1424 Clarke Rd, London, Ontario – July 18 at 10:30 a.m.

In this vast country we can surely set aside required space for birds and other species while building Canada Strong…

From Birds Canada:

Today, organizations across Canada are raising concerns about decisions that the federal Government is making that will have lasting impacts on nature and wildlife.

We often hear that protecting the environment and supporting the economy are competing goals, but they don’t have to be. Over the last few weeks, a series of worrisome policy decisions have been made which will have compounding impacts on the birds we all love. Taken together, these decisions are pushing our ecosystems—the environments we depend on—too far. For ourselves, and for the birds, we must do more. We must do better.

And we can do better. Strong environmental protections and effective economic policies can go hand in hand. Birds Canada is directly contributing solutions to make that happen.

Read the full statement from our President & CEO Patrick Nadeau: https://tinyurl.com/mteafwnk

From Green Party of Ontario:

The Greenbelt is home to 121 vulnerable species which makes up 42% of Ontario’s species at risk.

The Ford government is a year and a half late in conducting its mandatory review of the Greenbelt.

Greens are calling on the Ford government to produce their review and prove to Ontarians that these lands will continue to be protected

From Endangered Ecosystems Alliance:

This is the time of year many eastern Canadians eat fiddleheads, or the young, curled up fronds of the Ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris), cooked here with butter and garlic – delicious! . While other species of ferns are also eaten sporadically in other regions of North America, Matteuccia struthiopteris is often considered the most edible, though all ferns contain at least small amounts of toxins and should be eaten in moderation (many can be quite toxic and carcinogenic, and all edible ferns must be well cooked and ideally with a change of water after an initial boiling).

This is another example of a non-timber forest product that requires the standing deciduous and mixed wood forests of Canada and the US, with an estimated economic value of $10 million (Cdn) annually. New Brunswick by far is the epicenter of the industry, where thousands of pickers gather them each spring from the woods and meadows (including many First Nations communities, who first discovered the edibility of the fern), with some good pickers making $300 to $500 per day. Native ecosystems are vital for both our health and wellness, and for the economy!

Please SEND a MESSAGE to the federal decision-makers to protect endangered ecosystems across Canada by reintroducing and strengthening the Nature Accountability Bill, at:https://www.endangeredecosystemsalliance.org/news/natureaccountability2025

From Saving Monarchs:

Plant trees for the people who will never know your name. Care for the earth long after you’re gone.

Kindness isn’t just how we treat each other today, it’s what we leave behind for tomorrow. Every tree planted is a gift to future generations: cleaner air, cooler summers, shelter for wildlife, and hope for a healthier planet.

A caring person plants seeds knowing they may never sit in the shade, but someone else will.