The beautiful sunshine and soaring temperatures of midsummer have arrived and the butterflies have followed. The garden is in full flower and an excellent diversity of species may be seen on sunny days.

A Tawny Emperor – a first for the garden – was photographed last week. Other spectacular species, including Milbert’s Tortoiseshell, are present for the patient visitor.

The photo contest continues through August. Unique photo experiences abound in the height of summer so be sure to seize the opportunity.

We have a free summer education series set to begin August 7 and run until September 11.  Come visit each Saturday morning as local experts teach about wildlife in the garden. A schedule is posted below.

Congratulations to all entrants!  Your photos were of a very high standard and selecting just one winner in each category proved to be exceptionally difficult. 

There were no pretty butterflies or colourful flowers, but with fewer subjects to choose from in the winter, it forced a great deal of creativity and you took many stunning photos.

Because the choices were so difficult, we decided to have ‘runners up’, which appear in alphabetical order under the category.

The four First Prize winners will receive an envelope in the mail in approximately one week.

Once again, congratulations to all!

Below are all the entries for the winter photo contest. With hundreds of beautiful entries, it was a difficult decision for the judge. Thanks to all for participating and sharing your unique experiences in the Garden. Click any photo to enter a slideshow and see photographer and species details.

April 21, 2021

With luck last night we just had our last snow for the season!

Carolyn Zanchetta worked at the Garden and looked after the web site and Photo Contests for the last year.  Carolyn has recently accepted a position with the Halton Conservation Authority, and will not be returning for this season.  She is leaving us with the very best wishes from everyone concerned with the Urquhart Butterfly Garden. 

On June 1, we will be welcoming Matt Mills as the coordinator, interpreter, gardener at the Butterfly Garden.

Many will know Matt already from his interpretive walks during the summer series.  He’s an avid naturalist and excellent birder.

The results of the Winter Photo Contest will be posted on May 15. Thank you to all who entered.

We are hoping for a great season, with weather that is not too hot, not too cold; not too dry, not too wet.  Fingers crossed!

JC

Even throughout the deep freeze of winter, life continues at the garden. There is great beauty to still be found with a fresh backdrop of snow – the textures of dried plants poking out beneath a blanket of white, the contrast of a bright red Cardinal high in a tree against the blue-grey sky, and the plentiful ducks, geese, and swans enjoying the flowing water of the canal. Take some time to go for a winter’s walk and experience the garden in a completely different way. Bring your camera to capture the moment and enter our 2021 Winter Photo Contest.

Thank you to Mark Williams for sharing some excellent photos and a video from recent visits!

Please wear a mask when you walk through the garden, even though it is outside. Bring your camera along as you walk through for exercise and fresh air. Stay at least two metres apart and do not congregate with others from outside your household. The current guidelines restrict outdoor gatherings to fewer than five people. If there are already five visitors in the garden, please visit another time instead. Currently, the Hamilton Conservation Authority remains open with similar guidelines.

This year only, the Urquhart Butterfly Garden and the Hamilton Conservation Authority invite you to participate in a special Winter Photo Contest at the garden and Canal Park!

Please read the following carefully, as it is a little different than the summer photo contest. Photos must be taken between January 15, 2021 through April 15, 2021. As this contest is in partnership with the Hamilton Conservation Authority, it also includes Canal Park. See the map below for the approximate contest boundary.

Send your entries to winterphotos2021@gmail.com before midnight on April 15. Good luck!

***Ready to enter? Only 3 photos per category allowed. Please send a separate email for each category. Each photo must be less than 5 MB. YOU MUST PROVIDE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING to be considered (copy and paste into your email so you don’t miss anything):

1. Name
2. Address
3. Phone Number
4. Age (ONLY if under 18)
5. Category
6. Date and time each photo was taken
7. If entry is wildlife, identify the species

We will confirm your entry within 5 business days. If you do not hear from us, please follow-up.

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 Urquhart Butterfly Garden Photo Contest! A big thank you to the judges for their time and thoughtful decisions.  The judges send their heartfelt congratulations to the winners.

Most of the work on the Photo Contest has been done by Carolyn Zanchetta, who many of you will have seen working away at the Garden. Thank you, Carolyn.

It was wonderful to see how many people took part in this contest, appreciated the Garden, and learned what treasures can be seen. 

Congratulations to the Winners and and thank you to all the contestants – we loved all your photos! Click any photo below to begin a slideshow.