humberarboretum's Journal

May is a busy month in the nature world. Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and spring is springing! So many people contributed to The Humber Arboretum Atlas Project this past month. Here are the highlights of the cool observations that were made.

Over 15 different flowers were observed in May. S. Weber (ghosthntr) observed many of them, with some being Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Common Lilacs and Common Peonies. Mike Naumoff, a nature interpreter here at the Humber Arboretum, found the Carolina Spring-Beauty, and the Large White Trillium, which is Ontario’s national flower!

© Michael Naumoff, some rights reserved (BY-CC), Large White Trillium - Observation 78274612

Tons of plants can be found throughout the Arboretum. Max Haber, another of our nature interpreters, spotted Cut-leaved Toothwort, Bloodroot, and Solomon’s Plume, just to name a few.

© Max Haber, some rights reserved (BY-CC), Blood Root - Observation 78269767

Multiple birds were also spotted. Cedar Waxwings, the Common Grackle, the White-crowned Sparrow, and the Rusty Blackbird were all observations from coleencraig.

© Colleen Craig, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC), Cedar Waxwing - Observation 78126918

Avita Ragnauth captured the Northern Cardinal, and other birds, such as the Tree Swallow and the Red-winged Blackbird, were spotted by S. Weber (ghosthntr).

© S. Weber, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC), Tree Swallow - Observation 80362685

Along with birds, many other critters inhabit the Arboretum, like the Eastern Chipmunk found by Avita Ragnauth and the American Toad found by Mike Naumoff.

© Michael Naumoff, some rights reserved (BY-CC), American Toad - Observation 79424024

The Humber Arboretum wants to thank everyone who submitted their findings in May. We are looking forward to seeing what everyone spots in June!

• Nicole Carbone, Humber Arboretum Student Content Creator

No matter where they live, kids are invited to join the Humber Arboretum online for Virtual Nature Camp fun this July and August.

Aimed at kids ages 6 to 11, Virtual Summer Nature Camp with the Humber Arboretum offers mornings full of fun and engaging online programming promoting curiosity and nature connection. Through games, challenges, and activities campers will learn about the natural world and discover new ways to explore outdoors.

Every week of camp will include get-to-know-you and icebreaker games, nature journaling activities, nature mysteries to solve, fun games and activities that help develop observation skills and a deeper awareness of nature, and time for campers to share their own nature discoveries. Other activities will explore the weekly theme:

• Arboretum Adventures (July 5 to 9)
• Growing Up Gardeners (July 12 to 16)
• Rivers and Ravines (July 19 to 23)
• Healthy Planet, Healthy Lives (July 26 to 30)
• Powerful Pollinators (August 3 to 6, short week with reduced fee)
• Wilderness Survival Skills (August 9 to 13)
• Nature Detectives (August 16 to 20)
• Sensational Senses (August 23 to 27)
• Birds, Birds, Birds (August 30 to September 3)

Camp runs Monday to Friday from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time, and costs $110 Canadian per family/device per week (siblings may share a screen).

For all the details and online registration, visit the Virtual Nature Camp page on the Humber Arboretum website.