by Patrick | Feb 15, 2026 | Uncategorized
Who Actually Lives in Toronto Gardens? A concise, context-based snapshot for dense urban settings by Dorothy & Patrick Smyth Urban ecology research shows that insect communities in Toronto vary strongly by location, scale, and connectivity. Gardens matter — but...
by Patrick | Jan 20, 2026 | Uncategorized
Invasive Species, Public Money, and Staying Grounded – A review by Dorothy and Patrick Smyth (retired accountants) of the Auditor General’s comments from an accounting perspective for discussion purposes. Invasive species are a real ecological concern, and this is not...
by Patrick | Jan 7, 2026 | Uncategorized
Upon reading “Humanity for Habitat” A review by Dorothy & Patrick Smyth Why scale ultimately breaks the argument for urban gardens Upon reading “Humanity for Habitat: Residential Yards as an Opportunity for Biodiversity Conservation” (BioScience, 2023), it is easy...
by Patrick | Jan 2, 2026 | Uncategorized
Chickadees, gardens, and misplaced ecological anxiety In Ontario — including the Greater Toronto Area — the chickadee most people encounter is the Black-capped Chickadee. It is a small, resident woodland bird that has adapted extremely well to fragmented landscapes,...
by Patrick | Dec 26, 2025 | Uncategorized
Toronto Ravines, Invasive Plants, and the Limits of Garden Responsibility (Dorothy and Patrick Smyth, 2025 – Toronto Master Gardeners) A review of evidence and implications for urban home gardeners Introduction Toronto’s ravine system is one of the city’s...
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