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What Does Your Garden Really Do?
https://issuu.com/torontobotanicalgarden/docs/trellis_summer_2026 What Does Your Garden Really Do? Gardeners hear a lot these days about what our gardens are supposed to accomplish. Plant this, and you’ll support birds. Plant that, and you’ll help biodiversity. The...
The Ecology of a Home Garden
Trellis Magazine – Spring issue https://issuu.com/torontobotanicalgarden/docs/trellis_spring_2026?fr=sZjc2MjkwODYyNT The Ecology of a Home Garden Most gardeners think about plants when they think about their garden. We plan, prune, water, and design. We notice what...
Not all evidence applies universally.
Not all evidence applies universally (think U.S.A. chickadee studies). The reality isn’t just plant choice—it’s scale. In many U.S. suburbs, larger, connected lots mean planting decisions can add up across a neighbourhood. In dense urban settings like Toronto, gardens...
Are gardens in the British Isles and North America really that different?
Are gardens in the British Isles and North America really that different? Or are we just interpreting similar spaces in different ways? Long-term observation in UK gardens shows something quite grounded—gardens support a wide range of life, much of it generalist,...
Rethinking the ‘Failed Food Web’ idea in the British Isles
Recently we listened to a podcast interview (1) in which Doug Tallamy described the ecology of the British Isles as something like “wallpapering” — landscapes that look pleasant but support relatively little insect life. It’s a familiar metaphor Tallamy often uses -...
Where gardens can have the greatest impact on biodiversity and ecological services
Where gardens can have the greatest impact on biodiversity and ecological services Gardens can contribute to biodiversity and ecological services — but their impact depends far less on plant choice alone than on context, scale, and connectivity. Understanding where...