Balsam Fir, a common species of the Canadian boreal forests and certainly one of the most perfect Christmas trees. With its aromatic, soft and flat needles, Baslam fir (Abies balsamea) is an evergreen

Every autumn, walnut makes itself known. Its numerous, substantial seeds cover the ground. These green, lime shaped spheres hanging from the tree are its seeds - heavy nuts with a thick rind. Black walnut,

This climbing vine has leaves and tendrils reminiscent of a garden cucumber, but the fruit itself is very strange. Found on the side of a trail, this is a plant that is native to North America. Latin name:

Horse-chestnut isn't edible like a chestnut, but the flowers are very extravagant. Scientific name: Aesculus hippocastanum it's native to Anatolia and Greece, but is planted widely for its nice form and

Commonly known as just 'Sumacs' where I'm from, these can grow from a small shrub into a sizeable tree. Staghorn sumac or Rhus typhina grows along the sides of roads and trails, open fields and anywhere

The polypore mushrooms are a diverse and varied category. This is certainly one of the most colourful. Underneath, you can see the hundreds of little pores that extend 1-2cm deep and are full of the mushroom's

Once you reach the western coast of Canada, these trees face the Pacific Ocean and tower the tallest. Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) is a coastal species that ranges from the extreme southern coastal

Did you know there are hundreds of varieties of citrus fruits descended from a few core species? Citrus fruits have always been my personal favourite fruit. If I could grow them I would, having a great

One of my personal favourite trees, the White fir is a great addition to any landscape. The white fir, abies concolor is native to the mountains of western North America. It thrives in rocky areas and

I had to lean in very close to get this picture, but it was worthwhile. This bumblebee was very interested in what this thistle had to offer. The picture is 100% original, unphotoshopped and shows the

I used a digital microscope to take some backlit photos of various tree leaves, and the results were interesting. A close-up of the venation of Chinkapin Oak. It's clear that there's a main channel and

Not something you'd want to ingest whole, that's for sure. However if you give it time to ripen and chew thoroughly, they are said to be tasty. This specimen is Ribes cynosbati or Dogberry. A wild relative

A delicious specimen of sour cherry. They are bright red and their juicy, tangy taste is worth picking lots. One of the easiest fruit trees to grow in my experience, I suggest everyone plant at least one

Does it look like an aster? Don't be fooled, it's a different genus entirely. This common flower of the summer months can be found throughout Southern Ontario. Called the Daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus),

An easy to miss plant, but it grows in abundance in fields. Birdsfoot Trefoil, or (Lotus corniculatus). It enjoys sandy soils and is a generally hardy plant. You can find this introduced species all over

They're getting close, can you taste the sourness? Anyone who's eaten gooseberries before they're ripe knows what I'm talking about. The crunchy, sour taste is unmistakable. Just about another week until

The flowers of the Viburnum are very striking up close. Most likely Maple-leaf Viburnum there are over 150 species of Viburnums in the world. Hope you enjoy this quick nature snapshot.

Found only in the warmest climes of Canada, Sassafras grows in the rich Carolinian forests of southern Ontario. Easily recognizable by its distinct leaves, Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a tree that

A departation from my regular botany-based blogging, I'd like to share some pictures of Canadian wildlife. Canadian geese, one of the most recognizable bird species in my country. Not much to say about

There's a few things I like to grow in the garden every year. I'd like to share a few with you, along with my tips. Beans Beans are great. They're easy to germinate, easy to grow and produce consistently