At the Royal Botanical Gardens, Wonderland comes to life through vibrant blooms and whimsical design
Winter at the Royal Botanical Gardens is anything but dull. From Feb. 1 to March 30, 2025, the garden’s newest curated botanical exhibit, Alice in Bloomland, transforms the season’s cold and grey atmosphere into an escape where orchids bloom in abundance, whimsical art installations play with scale and colour, and visitors are invited to step into a world that feels both surreal and familiar.
The exhibit brings to life the whimsical imagery of the 1865 novel by Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Kim Viney, chief operating officer at the RBG, shared that the theme was born from a year-long focus on nostalgia, tapping into a story recognized across generations.
As the RBG’s first large-scale floral showcase, the exhibit goes well beyond simple arrangements. Viney explained that the team carefully balanced natural and built elements, incorporating lush florals and plants into elaborate set pieces, creating a space where nature doesn’t just decorate but becomes part of the storytelling.
Unlike traditional exhibits, Alice in Bloomland invites visitors to experience the spirit of Lewis Carroll’s imagined Wonderland in their own way. Some may be drawn to the playfulness of the props, while others may focus on the artistry of CoBALT Connects’ textile installations.
“We didn’t want to dictate how people should enjoy it,” said Viney. Instead, the space is designed to surprise—every visit offers something new to discover.
We didn’t want to dictate how people should enjoy it.
Kim Viney, Chief Operating Officer
Royal Botanical Gardens
As the winter brings bare outdoor gardens, the RBG aimed to create a warm and lively experience to contrast the season’s grey skies.
“People have told us they walk in and immediately feel lighter, like they don’t need to escape to the south,” said Viney.
People have told us they walk in and immediately feel lighter, like they don’t need to escape to the south.
Kim Viney, Chief Operating Officer
Royal Botanical Gardens
Located at the RBG Centre at 680 Plains Rd. W. in Burlington, Ont., Alice in Bloomland is just 15 minutes from McMaster University by car or 30 to 40 minutes by public transit. With the semester wrapping up and exams approaching, students can immerse themselves in a whimsical and natural scene.
Nature at McMaster's final tree planting shows that sometimes, all it takes is one tree to start restoring a forest
By: Dawn McKee, Arts and Culture Contributor
As the crisp air of late autumn signalled the approach of winter, Nature at McMaster wrapped up its tree-planting season with a final tree planting event at 10:00 a.m. on Nov. 24, 2024. The trees planted will help restore the vegetation in the McMaster Forest Nature Preserve, a 115-acre plot off of Wilson St E.
This event, marked by enthusiasm and a shared commitment to conservation, brought together 17 volunteers who planted nearly 50 native trees and shrubs. These included species like gooseberry and hackberry, which play a crucial role in supporting local wildlife.
Sophia Scordino, a restoration and stewardship intern for Nature at McMaster, explained that parts of McMaster Forest had previously been overrun with invasive species like European buckthorn. These invasive plants choke out native species and provide little value to the local ecosystem. By removing them and planting native trees, Nature at McMaster aims to restore the area to its natural state, ensuring it becomes a thriving habitat for native mammals, birds and reptiles.
Scordino emphasized the importance of native species. "They provide food, shelter and other ecosystem services that invasive species simply can’t offer to local wildlife," said Scordino. This restoration effort not only benefits the environment but also contributes to broader ecological health in Hamilton.
This season, Nature at McMaster faced the daunting task of planting more than 100 trees and shrubs across McMaster Forest and the lower campus. The final event came later in the year than planned, but with the help of dedicated volunteers, the team successfully planted all the trees before the frost set in. "Luckily, the weather held out for us," said Scordino.
Renee Twyford, another restoration and stewardship intern, highlighted that Nature at McMaster is more than just tree planting. As part of McMaster's outdoor recreation group, their mission includes education, restoration and outreach. "We want to empower people to understand and protect the natural world around them," said Twyford. "It’s about more than just being outside—it’s about knowing what you’re seeing and how to help it thrive."
We want to empower people to understand and protect the natural world around them. It’s about more than just being outside—it’s about knowing what you’re seeing and how to help it thrive.
Renee Twyford, restoration and stewardship intern
Nature at McMaster
Through events like interactive hikes and workshops, they engage students and community members, teaching them about native species and their role in local ecology. Social media efforts, including an active Instagram presence, further extend their reach and impact.
Nature at McMaster has ambitious goals, such as expanding eco-corridors around campus to support migratory birds and turtles and establishing an Indigenous teaching and gathering garden near Lot P. These projects aim to undo ecological harm caused by development, such as the paving of parking lots, and create spaces where wildlife can flourish.
One of the organization’s most significant achievements has been the transformation of McMaster Forest, which was once farmland overtaken by invasive species. Scordino explained that it features a rare tallgrass prairie ecosystem, home to species like eastern bluebirds and woodcocks. "Less than 1 per cent of tallgrass prairie remains in Canada, so preserving and restoring it here is incredibly valuable," said Scordino.
Recently, the organization launched a formal volunteering program, which has already attracted over 100 participants. Through this initiative, they hope to build a community of nature enthusiasts who are empowered to lead their own conservation efforts, whether it’s organizing litter cleanups, conducting wildlife surveys, or running interpretive hikes.
For Twyford, making nature accessible and approachable is key. "A lot of people feel overwhelmed by how much there is to learn about nature, but even small actions, like planting a single tree, can have a huge impact," said Twyford.
A lot of people feel overwhelmed by how much there is to learn about nature, but even small actions, like planting a single tree, can have a huge impact.
Renee Twyford, Restoration and Stewardship Intern
Nature at McMaster
Nature at McMaster’s work exemplifies how small, community-driven efforts can lead to significant environmental change. As Scordino put it, "We’ve already made a difference, transforming McMaster Forest and areas near Lot M. The impact is real, and it’s just the beginning."
When asked for advice for those considering getting involved, both Scordino and Twyford were emphatic, encouraging students to "just do it." Whether through Nature at McMaster or other local environmental groups, they encourage everyone to take action, learn about native ecology and get involved to make a difference. "[It] doesn't matter who you are, where you come from," said Scordino.
"I just think that everyone should get out here, everyone should go outside, go touch some grass," said Twyford. If you are interested in volunteering with Nature at McMaster or attending one of their events, you can visit their website or Instagram page.
Witnessing beauty can bring on intense emotions such as sadness, but that’s not always a bad thing
By Andrew Khalil
I remember the first time I felt it so vividly. I was standing knee deep in the freezing water of Lake Huron well past midnight. The full moon was projected in the sky; a massive orb casting a pale glow on the entire lake. I looked down, seeing the moons reflection shimmering through the tiny ripples in the water. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever witnessed firsthand and yet, I could not help but feel a wave of sadness wash over me.
Ever since then, I’ve felt a similar melancholic feeling almost every time I witness beauty, both in nature and in cinematography. And so, I wondered, why does something so beautiful make me feel so sad?
It was much easier to reason when it came to cinematography, pinning the feeling to the subconscious knowledge of cinema as being unauthentic and manufactured to be beautiful, unlike nature. However, when it came to natural beauty, the reasons were not as apparent.
In search of answers, I scoured the internet and found nothing, just other people who felt similar melancholy but also did not understand why they felt this way. I started talking to my friends and family about this feeling and to my surprise, it was familiar to some of them, yet we still could not grasp why this even occurs.
As time went on, I realized that part of this sadness may not come from the beauty itself, but from the nature of the beautiful experience. The moments of beauty that are almost sublime, the ones that fill me with an inexplicable sense of sadness, are the ones that I know will pass. This realization sparked other ideas, and I started to contemplate a new question, could there be a way to ease my sadness? or better yet, harness the beauty of nature in my personal life?
As time went on, I realized that part of this sadness may not come from the beauty itself, but from the nature of the beautiful experience. The moments of beauty that are almost sublime, the ones that fill me with an inexplicable sense of sadness, are the ones that I know will pass
These beautiful experiences can create nostalgia, spark existential sadness, or trigger a sense of empathy regarding the destruction of nature’s beauty. Regardless, I felt satisfied with my insights and motivated to find the answer to my new question.
Post-realization, I decided to buy some plants and watch them grow beautifully over a two-year period. This simple act allowed me to experience the beauty of nature in a way that lasted.
Aside from buying plants, there are many other ways that you can harness the beauty of nature in your personal life. Spend more time immersed in nature. Whether a solitary endeavour or with others, your time in nature can also act as a time for exercise and meditation. You can go for a hike as cardio or sit peacefully surrounded by trees to ease your mind from stress.
Take up a nature-related hobby. Hobbies such as painting, photography, and gardening not only allow you to harness the beauty of nature in your personal life, but also act as mediums to express your creativity.
Travel to natural destinations. Traveling, even if done locally, can be an amazing way to experience the beauty of nature in your personal life. You can visit local gardens, the beautiful waterfalls surrounding the McMaster University campus, or go on a road trip to the beach, these experiences can be awe-inspiring and leave lasting memories.
By actively seeking out and experiencing the beauty of nature, we can find comfort in the fact that even though our experience in natures beauty is temporary, we can still find moments of happiness and fulfillment. I certainly did and so can you.
C/O Stepan Unar, Unsplash
Man arrested following an attack on Caleb’s Walk
CW: assault
Hamilton is home to a number of hiking trails and waterfalls, providing community members with the opportunity to head outdoors and enjoy nature views. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor activities have also garnered rising popularity as people search for activities and recreation to entertain themselves with.
However, heavily wooded areas in Hamilton have also been susceptible to dangerous activity in the last several years. Given the popularity of hiking among the student body, students at McMaster University should remain aware of the potential dangers associated with visiting trails.
Most recently on Sept. 30, 2021, an individual was assaulted while walking alone on Caleb’s Walk trail. Caleb’s Walk is one of the many trails of the Cootes Paradise sanctuary and is located next to the Westdale neighbourhood, off of Dalewood Crescent and Oak Knoll Drive.
Hamilton Police Service released a request for assistance in identifying the assault suspect the next day, detailing suspect descriptions and asking residents to review their video surveillance footage.
On Oct. 5, 28-year-old Tony Robert Gordon was arrested for the assault. Gordon is facing charges of assault causing bodily harm, four counts of failing to comply with probation and drug possession.
According to HPS, the assault was a random attack of violence.
Gordon is facing charges of assault causing bodily harm, four counts of failing to comply with probation and drug possession. According to HPS, the assault was a random attack of violence.
Unfortunately, this assault was not the only one that has taken place in Hamilton trails. In April of 2019, a woman was struck with an object and sexually assaulted on another Hamilton trail, Bruce Trail.
Bruce Trail is Canada’s oldest and longest trail, running 900 km from Niagara to Tobermory, passing Hamilton in-between.
The victim was assaulted while walking from the Dundurn stairs down the Bruce Trail when she stopped after hearing someone call out to her.
The HPS did not release any further updates to this investigation nor was an arrest announced.
Also on Bruce Trail, an arrest was made in 2017 after an individual walking alone was approached by a man with a knife and forced into a quiet area.
The suspect was arrested in this case and HPS charged 28-year-old Shane Stevens with sexual assault with a weapon and two times of breach of probation.
With the Cootes Paradise area in close proximity to McMaster University, hiking on trails has been a popular outdoor activity for many students. However, the danger associated with walking alone on Hamilton trails has not been foreign to students.
A number of recreational trails are also available within the McMaster Forest. McMaster has noted that such trails, however, are mainly unmaintained.
Random assaults, such as the ones mentioned above, are unfortunate occurrences that most do not expect when visiting trails. It is important that students remain vigilant as they visit trails and take the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe.
By Donna Nadeem, Contributor
Cootes Paradise surrounds McMaster University’s campus, creating a warm, natural environment at Mac. At the Art Gallery of Hamilton (123 King St. West) and within the heart of the Jean and Ross Fischer Gallery, a collection of various works comes together to express the impact that Cootes has had on Hamilton — spanning the past, present and (hopefully) the future.
From paintings of the beautiful landscape contained in Cootes Paradise, to photographs of the life that resides within and maps documenting the area, “Cootes Paradise: A Place Above All Others” reveals the importance of this wetland. The works emphasize that if we don’t take care of Cootes, then we are going to lose it.
The exhibition is a collaboration between the Royal Botanical Gardens, Dundas Museum and Archives, Hamilton Public Library and the Art Gallery of Hamilton. It celebrates the centennial of the Hamilton Naturalists Club, discusses sustainability within Cootes Paradise and reflects on stewardship of the land. There is a focus on the human connection to the land and biodiversity.
Cootes Paradise has had a long past. Its usage claims were constantly debated in where a by developers and entrepreneurs. However, local bird watchers saw the threat looming. They began fundraising to preserve the wetlands as a natural habitat.
“Everyone had a different notion of what they wanted to do with this area, they wanted to live in it, hunt in it, they wanted to commercially develop it and this has been its fate,” said Tor Lukasik-Foss, director of programs and education at the Art Gallery of Hamilton.
Robert Ross is one of the artists who has contributed to this exhibition. Ross has been viewed has one of Hamilton’s most successful artists and considered a master of realism painting. The artist has focused much of his work on Cootes and Dundas Valley, detailing how the land has changed throughout time. This artwork, combined with maps and aerial photography provided by the Hamilton Public Library, effectively helps viewers understand how history has taken its toll on Cootes Paradise.
The Hamilton Naturalists Club asked its members to share their photos of the area, specifically of the birds that live and dwell within the trees. Reaching out to amateur photographers within their membership, they curated 40 photos of Cootes’ long-term residents.
The Hamilton Naturalists Club have been at the forefront of annual bird counts and record-keeping for bird activity in the area since 1927. Thanks to this, they have the most complete record of bird activity anywhere in North America.
“Even though we look at nature and think that this is a place where humans don’t reside, it's not really true, we are there whether nature wants us there or not, for the sake of its continuance we have to be there, so there’s this rich human culture that abounds beyond,” said Lukasik-Foss.
Naturally, as McMaster University overlooks the grounds of Cootes Paradise, a new course was created to explore the area. “Designing Paradise” will run during the Winter 2020 term. It will explore eco-concepts and re-define McMaster’s campus as an environmentally sustainable space. The course will be led by professors Judy Major-Giradin and Daniel Coleman.
“I love that through this course we can engage with the historical and political elements that still reside in the Hamilton landscape, but also have the chance to artistically explore the natural environment and reimagine west campus as the diverse ecosystem that it once was,” said Mariana Quinn, a 3rd year Studio Arts student who is enrolled in the ART 3DP3 Designing Paradise course.
Both Major-Giradin and Coleman are focused on sustainability. Major-Girardin is a Studio Arts professor that actively seeks methods in her studio practice that can provide and offer more environmentally responsible approaches. Coleman is an English professor who recently published a book called Yardwork in 2017 that analyzes Hamilton through ecological, cultural and political stories as well as builds awareness for the sacred land where he resides.
“These spaces, they are not untouched by humans, they are massively touched by humans, in fact, the only way that they live now is because of human advocacy and human action, so they are as talked about and combed over as any other urban space in a lot of ways,” said Lukasik-Foss.
“Cootes Paradise: A Place Above All Others” is a tremendous effort by members of the city to teach it’s residents that even though we live in a densely populated city, we have beautifully vibrant natural spaces. With these spaces; however, comes environmental issues that we need to get behind in to preserve our nature.
“Cootes Paradise: A Place Above All Others” is on display until Dec. 1 at the Art Gallery of Hamilton (123 King St. West). The exhibition is free to all McMaster students with a valid student card.
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Forget about your school stress and live your fairytale at Royal Botanical Gardens
By: Belinda Tam, Contributor
Wonderful aromas, flowers, trees and shows. Doesn’t that sound amazing? With the stress of tests, midterms and assignments, sometimes it’s hard to get away from it all. The Royal Botanical Gardens (680 Plains Rd. West) is one of those places that will make you feel like you’ve walked into a fairy tale. With midterms in full swing, the RBG can be a great way to take time for yourself and relax without having to leave the city.
As the largest botanical gardens in Canada, a national historic site and a registered charitable organization for over 80 years, the RBG is an ecological gem. It was built and founded by Thomas Baker McQuesten, a Liberal member of provincial parliament for the area, who created what would become a regional botanical tourism site and environmental agency.
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In 1941, McQuesten was granted a provincial mandate for four areas of development: conservation, education, horticulture and science. Nearly 80 years later, the RBG has established an international reputation as a living laboratory for science, a leader in sustainable gardening and a key player in connecting Hamiltonians to nature. Within its 60 documented collections and 40,000 plants displayed in four major areas, it is a shining attraction just outside the city.
The RBG is comprised of four parks: Hendrie Park, Rock Garden, Laking Garden and the Arboretum.
Hendrie Park is the largest garden, known for its various plants and trees arranged in a unique design. It holds 20 different areas including the Rose Garden, Medicinal Garden and a Scented Garden. Each area boasts has a peak season that ranges depending on the time of year, allowing areas such as Hendrie Park to always give visitors a new experience.
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The Rose Garden has been newly renovated and is an extraordinary display of roses across two acres of land. Many of the roses are joined by companion plants that help to protect the roses within their vicinity.
The Medicinal Garden is unique because each bed in this garden is focused on a particular part of the human body. The beds are organized by the diseases they treat, but also features plants from various cultures, allowing one to compare ancient traditional herbs to modern medicine.
The Scented Garden features the traditional conception of a garden: stone walkways, a beautiful central fountain and the fragrance of flowers pollinating the air. You are encouraged to walk through the garden, smell the annuals and consider why we have an emotional attachment to plants. Why do we place them in vases to adorn our tables? Why do we plant them outside of our houses?
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When you go into different areas of Hendrie Park, it feels like you’re walking from one section of a storybook to the next, making it a magical experience.
Then there’s the Rock Garden. It is RBG’s newest garden, built to celebrate the start of a new era with a modern twist. The founder of Royal Botanical Gardens, Thomas Baker McQuesten, took abandoned gravel and used it to form what is now known as the Rock Garden. Within the garden, there are ponds, a waterfall and a year-round perennial display. The new garden also showcases a multi-use visitor center that houses a restaurant, conference centre and a look-out deck with a view of the garden’s lower-bowl.
The next area of the grounds is the Laking Garden. This is the second-oldest garden at the RBG and is home to perennial collections. Features of the garden include its iris, peony, and clematis collections, typically in full bloom during the summer months.
The last section of the garden is the Arboretum. It looks like something that came out of a landscape painting, with a vast arrangement of trees and plants. This area is especially beautiful in the spring when branches start to bud, but also in the fall when the foliage starts to assume beautiful reds, yellows and oranges. There are plants from all over the world here.
As large as the RBG is, they hold many events during the year.
The RBG has two ticketed events in the pipeline. “RBG After Dark: Boos, Brews & BBQ” is a Halloween costume party that will be held with creatures from the past. Enjoy the activities, music, locally crafted brews and delicious BBQ on Oct. 17 from 7-10 p.m. in the Rock Garden. Come out in your Halloween costume and take in the amazing autumn nightscape of the Boo-tanical Gardens!
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“The Great Pumpkin Trail” is taking over Hendrie Park’s South Bridle Trail lining each side of the path with hundreds of jack-o-lanterns. Enjoy the live entertainment, face painting and pumpkin-themed activities and games while taking in the autumn weather before All Hallow’s Eve. The event will take place on Oct. 24 and 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Both of these events are a fabulous way to meet up with friends, grab a bite, enjoy the scenery and get in the mood for Halloween!
As students, we have a lot of stress on our shoulders. We need to be able to take care of ourselves throughout our journey. The RBG can offer an escape from the stresses of campus, while still keeping you within the city’s limits. Stepping into one of its many acres will transport you to your favourite fairy tale and hopefully allow you to feel rejuvenated as we enter the second half of the semester.
By: Nature at McMaster
In 1941, McMaster Chancellor Howard P. Whidden said that the Westdale property’s “beautiful surrounding and natural setting” was one of the most important reasons that McMaster University relocated from Toronto to Hamilton.
The vision for this move, as summarized in a quote published in the Hamilton Spectator in 1929, was that academic pursuits would be supported by Cootes Paradise.
It is this co-dependent relationship that intended that McMaster students would be able to enjoy cool ravines and marsh meadows in their backyard to meditate and muse.
At the time, Hamilton proved itself a generous host of higher learning in having McMaster be located where it is now.
I believe that both McMaster and Hamilton are still very much the “generous hosts of higher learning” that these early writers hoped for, however, it seems that higher learning did not traverse outside the classroom walls, despite the increasing amount of stewardship and conservation work pursued by these two parties.
The nature surrounding McMaster has become a dumping ground for student trash instead of academic contemplation.
For instance, in a September letter, the Royal Botanical Gardens expressed their alarm regarding the amount of litter accumulating on Chegwin Trail just behind Brandon Hall.
At the time of this discovery, RBG was monitoring and collecting data about at-risk species, and unfortunately filled a full clear bag of single-use recyclable drink bottles and half a bag of non-recyclable garbage, including broken glass and four reusable drink bottles from the trail.
Unfortunately, the more litter there is, the more people feel it is acceptable to add to the pile.
The nature surrounding McMaster has become a dumping ground for student trash instead of academic contemplation.
At this rate, the RBG does not foresee themselves being able to keep up with the current garbage deposition rate before “McMaster’s less respectful students turn Chegwin Trail into a landfill”.
Ecological restoration work on this sensitive and world-renowned wetland is unattainable unless the McMaster community adopts a co-dependent attitude between our community and nature.
Unless this happens, it seems that the “Chegwin Trail landfill’’ will inevitably become a reality on this campus and students will no longer be able to enjoy this beautiful trail.
The solution I personally foresee i the theory of “placelessness”, a philosophy that re-imagines how people should view their relationship to the land that Dr.Coleman suggests in his book, Yardwork.
As placelessness suggests, our relationship to nature depends upon good manners: courtesy, respect and gratitude.
As students, we belong to McMaster, Hamilton and Cootes Paradise, which is a large part of our community and our location.
By doing this we will better ourselves and the environment we interact with.
As our ancestors believed, learning and nature come hand in hand.
As an institution that prides itself for innovation and respecting our land, students at McMaster should learn to live up to McMaster’s reputation by showing greater effort in respecting their environment and appreciating the ground that McMaster was built on, because at this rate, McMaster’s beautiful backyard may not be there for our future generations.
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By: Elizabeth Ivanecky
Hamilton Conservation Authority staff have noted that the Dundas and Ancaster regions in Hamilton are expected to experience a high degree of defoliation this summer due to the high levels of the European gypsy moth populations.
Noticeable defoliation will occur in the Dundas Valley Conservation Area east of the Hermitage Parking lot and south of the Hydro cut where HCA staff recorded 275 to 4580 egg masses of the gypsy moth. Comparable to the last spike in the gypsy moth population in 2008, when staff recorded 2600 to 10 000 egg masses.
The DVCA south of Little John Road is expected to bear the brunt of the defoliation with a count of approximately 7150 egg masses of the gypsy moth. In 2008, staff recorded 26 000 to 40 000 egg masses.
Other areas such as Spencer Gorge, Iroquoia Heights and other locations in the DVCA have been monitored for 25 to 600 egg masses per HA comparing to 500 to 15,000 that staff counted in 2008.
Originally introduced into the United States in 1869 as an attempt to begin a silk industry, the gypsy moth spread into Canada in Quebec in 1924 and gradually expanded into Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and British Columbia. It is considered the most significant tree defoliator in North America.
Gypsy moth larvae chew holes in or consume leaves thereby hindering a tree’s ability to produce new crop of leaves over the summer.
In their caterpillar stage, gypsy moths produce a large amount of caterpillar frass, or fecal matter, which becomes a bother to clean up on property owners’ driveways, patios, picnic tables and homes.
Lesley McDonell, a terrestrial ecologist for the HCA, prepared an update of the Gypsy Moth surveys in the Dundas and Ancaster regions to the Conservation Authority Board alongside Mike Stone, a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners and registered professional planner, which included proposed solutions to the defoliation issue.
HCA staff veer away from an aerial spray of the biological insecticide Btk since it kills more organisms than simply the gypsy moths. In 2008, the Dundas and Ancaster tree regions experienced a much more severe level of defoliation due to the Gypsy moth as compared to this year and were treated with an aerial spray.
“Gypsy moths develop in the same way a lot of our moths and butterfly species do, [with] the same sets of stages at the same time, so Btk kills every moth and butterfly at the same stage of development as the gypsy moths,” said McDonell
Instead, McDonell and staff advocate for an organic solution rather than a chemical one. She said gypsy moth populations can be kept in check with the fungus Entomophaga maimaiga and Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus among other things.
The Entomophaga maimaiga fungus is most successful in wet weather during the spring showing a stark decline in gypsy moth caterpillars than in drier springs. Caterpillars killed by this fungus appear withered and hang in a vertical position.
A strain of NPV that enters a gypsy moth produces and reproduces in the nucleus of cells causing the host to become visibly swollen with fluid of the virus — thereby contributing to its decay.
Human mediation is also possible by scraping egg masses and placing sticky bands around infected tree trunks to catch and kill the moths in their caterpillar life stage.
HCA staff have already employed sticky tape to catch hatching gypsy moths before they begin to defoliate trees and began scraping trees for egg masses.
Staff also considered the use of pheromone traps which lure adult male gypsy moths in a lethal trap through the guise of sex pheromones.
The moderately high level of gypsy moth populations in the Dundas and Ancaster regions especially concerns HCA staff about tree health and mortality since the Fall Canker worm defoliation that occurred last spring, the summer drought which followed and the possibility of a second defoliation looming this summer. Staff remark that this will further stress the trees within these regions’ forests.
“The trees are stressed, so we will be watching some of these severe areas closely to see how they react and then to see how the gypsy moth population levels change over time,” McDonell claims.
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On Jan. 1, Ontario Public Interest Research Group volunteer coordinator Randy Kay set out to find historical trails that once winded through the natural area behind Cootes Dr. It was this day that he stumbled upon Maria’s Walk, a well-used trail that connects Lot M to Thorndale Cres.
Although the trail is often used by the public, concrete barriers and fallen trees block its entrance. A sign warns that “violators will be charged under the trespass to property act 2(1)(a)(ii).”
Kay, an activist and author of the Restore Cootes blog, aims to get this historical trail re-opened and remove the barriers blocking the entrance to the trail.
“[Trail] users are criminalized by warning signs, [which] is to me a little outrageous considering that other trails that McMaster has under their control are ‘use at own risk’ and are somewhat welcoming to the public,” said Kay. “People use it anyway; why not make it more welcoming?”
In the late 1950s, the area that now consists of parking lots M, N, O, and P was once owned by the Royal Botanical Gardens and made up the Coldspring Valley Nature Sanctuary. By 1963, McMaster had purchased the land as part of their parking expansion plan.
Maria’s Walk is one of the last trails remaining from the original trail system made in 1958, and is a shortcut that connects Lot M to Westaway Rd. and Thorndale Cres.
“The goal is that McMaster will recognize the historical significance of the trail, [and] the utility of it as well for the people that are already using it,” said Kay.
In the past, the university has been receptive to plans to restore the natural area around the large parking lots. In 2014 the university removed 20 metres of pavement to make more room for wildlife around Spencer’s Creek.
“There was lots of resistance,” said Kay. “But I’ll give credit to the University administration here, the President [Patrick Deane] seems very open to these sorts of ideas.”
The project, which is in its preliminary stages, may involve a partnership with MacGreen and other environmental clubs to help raise awareness and improve the trail. Kay remains hopeful that the University will respond to his call for re-opening the trail.
By: Andrew Case
We’re lucky that our campus borders on Cootes Paradise. Sometimes, when I’m feeling particularly stressed, or overwhelmed by the sheer volume of people who feel the need to walk, talk, eat, play, and do other human activities which slowly drain my last (introverted) reserves of energy, I will escape to Cootes for a half hour. The Dundas Valley Conservation area, Bruce trail, and Mac Woodlot, all nearby, make for similarly pleasant retreats.
Evidently, I get a lot of utility out of the natural spaces near McMaster. Along with many other students, I like to think of myself as an environmentally aware person. That being said, I have some problems with how we approach environmental education and awareness.
The two main arguments which I hear being made for environmentalism are these: “the human race will go extinct,” and “it is immoral to pollute/litter/other heinous crimes against the environment.” I’m going to totally ignore the former in this article. But I have a qualm with the latter, the “moral argument”. It is all too often followed up with “think of your children’s children”, or some iteration, the gist of which is that I have a moral responsibility to future human beings. That is, actions which harm the environment are immoral because they make the plight of future generations worse than our own; because they harm other people. Fine. True enough.
I think those arguments are fine, but they leave me feeling a bit detached. I don’t want to be the cause of a future collapse of homo sapiens, and I don’t want to totally screw over my great-great-great-grandchildren, but those problems just don’t feel very immediate when I’m contemplating whether I want to drive someplace or make the ten minute walk. The utility of driving outweighs the disutility caused by the environmental harm.
Still, in this situation, I usually walk. The argument that convinces me is this: “nature is good. To harm it wantonly, therefore, is wrong.”
We feel the need to make every academic argument either scientific or, if we can’t manage that, at least humanist. I think environmentalism can have a strong scientific or humanist basis, and not lose face because it affirms the worth of nature to the human spirit.
One of my very favourite things is going on canoe trips with my dad. I spent six weeks of my summer on the Newfoundland coast, hiking and sailing. I like to saunter through Cootes. In short, nature is a great friend to me. And I try, where I can, to be a decent friend in return.
Environmentalism, when it’s at its best, is based on a good relationship between individuals and the landscape around them. Environmental education, then, should focus on fostering friendship between individuals and the places they live. Environmentalism should be about getting more out of the places we live while taking less.
