Monarch Butterfly – added to the Endangered Species List

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Monarch on Milkweed by Mark Williams

What would Fred and Norah Urquhart say?

On Thursday July 21, 2022 the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the Monarch Butterfly to the Endangered Species list.  This is a tragedy that could and should be stopped.

The Urquhart Butterfly Garden – the first Municipal Butterfly Garden in Canada – pays tribute to the lifelong research of Butterflies and their migration by Fred and Norah Urquhart.
Over 38 years of tagging Monarch Butterflies, starting in 1937 with Fred, culminated with the 1975 discovery of millions of Monarch butterflies in the Neovolcanic Plateau, Mexico.  This is where eastern butterflies over winter.  Just imagine these beautiful delicate creatures undertaking such an arduous journey!

What would the Urquharts say now?  
I think the Urquharts would say “let’s get to work!  We must save the Monarch from extinction “

What can you do?  Let’s get to work!
* Plant milkweed, and native plants such as asters, goldenrod and coneflowers.  Monarchs depend on the nectar for energy. 

* Lobby your councillors to ensure road allowances are full of native plants including milkweed.

* Never use herbicides or pesticides.
* Encourage and support community native pollinator gardens.  

* Stay informed.

2022 Summer Photo Contest

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The 2022 Summer Photo Contest begins June 6th and ends on September 6. Previous posts provide the information you will need to participate in this exciting annual summer contest. When you are ready to submit your pictures please use the form found via the following link.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc1gD7Hf-0Tjj4j3Rfr742NvTmcbxeXaEPpsbDN7It-qx_PGw/viewform?usp=sf_link

If you have any questions regarding the form or wish to submit your photos in another way please send queries to: summerphotos2022@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you in the Urquhart Butterfly Garden.

Seen in the Garden 2022

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May 31st

Photographs by Michelle Sharp

Redbud Flower by Michelle Sharp
Yellow Warbler in vines by Michelle Sharp

May 29

Thank you to the photographers who share their beautiful photographs with us at the Urquhart Butterfly Garden. We have included the beautiful Eastern Bluebirds who greeted us this spring in the Canal Park adjacent to the Urquhart Butterfly Garden.

*Double click to see each individual photograph and photographer credits.

2022 Summer Photo Contest

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Black Swallowtail (photo credit Michelle Sharp)

2022 Urquhart Butterfly Garden Summer Photo Contest

The 2022 Urquhart Butterfly Garden Summer Photo Contest kicks off on June 6th and runs through Labour Day Weekend to September 6th.

Photographers of all ages are eligible for cash awards in four categories:

  • Butterflies and Moths
  • Insects, Spiders and Bugs
  • Birds and other Wildlife
  • Plants & Flowers

Fancy Camera equipment is not needed.  Many great photos have been taken with cell phones.  What is required is patience and a good eye for an interesting photograph.

The Urquhart Butterfly Garden is full of life!  Butterflies are already being seen daily, including Monarchs and Mourning Cloaks.  Look closely and you may see young rabbits, garter snakes sunning themselves, and tiny voles popping out between the rocks.

Between June 6th and September 6th when you visit the Garden you will see a variety of beautiful flowers and plants which support the lives of butterflies, insects and birds.

The Photo Contest begins June 6th and ends September 6th.  Entry information and rules will be available at the Urquhart Butterfly Garden or can be viewed on the Urquhart Butterfly Garden website at: https://urquhartbutterfly.com

The Urquhart Butterfly Garden is located between Centennial Park and Canal Park at the end of the Desjardins Canal.  Parking is available on King Street East at the entrance to the Garden.

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Contacts

Joanna Chapman & Nancy Wylie – Coordinators Urquhart Butterfly Garden

Joanna: Phone 905-627-8917 (evenings)       Email: jchapman@295.ca

Nancy:   Phone 905-962-4601 Email: nwylie@cogeco.ca

2022 Summer Photo Contest

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Black Swallowtail (photo credit Michelle Sharp)

2022 Urquhart Butterfly Garden Summer Photo Contest

The 2022 Urquhart Butterfly Garden Summer Photo Contest kicks off on June 6th and runs through Labour Day Weekend to September 6th.

Photographers of all ages are eligible for cash awards in four categories:

  • Butterflies and Moths
  • Insects, Spiders and Bugs
  • Birds and other Wildlife
  • Plants & Flowers

Fancy Camera equipment is not needed.  Many great photos have been taken with cell phones.  What is required is patience and a good eye for an interesting photograph.

The Urquhart Butterfly Garden is full of life!  Butterflies are already being seen daily, including Monarchs and Mourning Cloaks.  Look closely and you may see young rabbits, garter snakes sunning themselves, and tiny voles popping out between the rocks.

Between June 6th and September 6th when you visit the Garden you will see a variety of beautiful flowers and plants which support the lives of butterflies, insects and birds.

The Photo Contest begins June 6th and ends September 6th.  Entry information and rules will be available at the Urquhart Butterfly Garden or can be viewed on the Urquhart Butterfly Garden website at: https://urquhartbutterfly.com

The Urquhart Butterfly Garden is located between Centennial Park and Canal Park at the end of the Desjardins Canal.  Parking is available on King Street East at the entrance to the Garden.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Contacts

Joanna Chapman & Nancy Wylie – Coordinators Urquhart Butterfly Garden

Joanna: Phone 905-627-8917 (evenings)       Email: jchapman@295.ca

Nancy:   Phone 905-962-4601 Email: nwylie@cogeco.ca

SPRING NOTES

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Spring is here and we are rushing into summer.

At the Urquhart Butterfly Garden there are two new people who you will see very busy gardening:

-Anne Mette Pedersen is our new gardener

-Nancy Wylie has taken on the task of Assistant Coordinator.

In addition Nancy has recruited a great collection of new volunteers.

The Summer Photo Contest will begin on June 6 and runs until Labour Day. The photo contest submission form will be posted on June 6th.

We have already seen our first Monarch, which is really early for us – unfortunately it did not stop for a photo.  Also a Spring Azure, American Ladies and Mourning Cloaks have been spotted. 

Our annuals will be arriving within the next 2 weeks, and we will be getting ready for a glorious summer.  We look forward to seeing you.

Sweet Bee on Fleabane by Mark Williams May 21 2022
Red Aphid on Speedwell by Mark Williams May 21 2022
Hoverfly by Mark Williams May 17 2022
Young Robin by Michelle Sharp May 15 2022

Winter Photo Contest Winners

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Congratulations to the winners in the Winter Photo Contest!  You braved the weather and took some lovely photos.   As one of the judges said: “It is always interesting to see what people notice on their walks in the Butterfly Garden and Canal Park”.

Thank you for sharing your experience with us.  

Good Luck for the Summer Photo Contest which begins in June.

JC/MM 

YOUTH

First Place, Natural Winter Scenes. Kalan Post, Age 17, Hamilton.
First Place, Birds & Other Wildlife – Northern Mockingbird. Kalan Post, Age 17, Hamilton.

ADULT

Honorable Mention, Natural Winter Scenes. Ken Kerr, Dundas.
First Place, Natural Winter Scenes. Jamie Habkirk, Dundas.
Honorable Mention, Birds & Other Wildlife – Pied-billed Grebe. Paul Mitro, Dundas.
First Place, Birds & Other Wildlife – Hooded Merganser. Jamie Habkirk, Dundas.

Spring 2022 Update – Eastern Bluebirds!

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Spring is in the air, and it looks like a rainy one.

The fully renovated Tree Swallow boxes are all mounted in Canal Park and we have a couple unexpected new residents checking out the real estate.  Mark Williams managed to take lovely photographs of the new family on the block, and we hope they settle in successfully.

The results of the Winter Photo Contest will be announced on March 31, so look for them on this website. 

Best wishes from our Team.