Humber Arboretum
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humberarb.bsky.social
Humber Arboretum
@humberarb.bsky.social
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One hundred hectares of public gardens and natural parklands in North Etobicoke. Open to all, the Arb exists as a tri-partnership between Humber Polytechnic, City of Toronto, and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA).
Humber.ca/arboretum
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humberarb.bsky.social
Spanish-speakers and learners of Toronto, join us tomorrow for Explorando el Frío: Caminata en la Naturaleza para Hispanohablantes.

Martes, 2 de December, de las 12:30 PM a las 2:00 PM.

(This free nature walk will be 100% in Spanish; no translation is available).

humber.ca/arboretum/ev...
A poster for a winter nature walk for Spanish-speaking folks, featuring winter colours and a photo of a deer. Text reads Explorando el Frío: Caminata en la Naturaleza para Hispanohablantes. Acompáñanos en una caminata en la naturaleza, completamente en español, diseñada para apreciar mejor el frío y el invierno de Canadá. Exploraremos un sendero tranquilo, conectaremos con el aire fresco y descubriremos cómo esta temporada puede convertirse en una aliada para el bienestar. Será un momento para moverte, respirar, observar y crear una relación más amable con el invierno. Martes, 2 de December, de las 12:30 PM a las 2:00 PM.
December 1, 2025 at 2:33 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
A stop on the bridge to watch the birds, checking on the work of the local beavers, and pausing for a quiet sit-spot near the river gave us all a chance to slow down and notice the everyday wonders of the natural world.

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Two people lean on the wide wooden railing of a bridge and look out over unseen water. A Common Merganser, a duck with a grey body, white breast, and red head, paddles in the river. A chewed poplar stump. The cat in sweater and harness sits in the sun-lit grass, with the person holding their leash at the edge of the frame.
November 5, 2025 at 9:12 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Thanks to everyone (human and feline) who joined us on yesterday's Building Nature Connection walk. It was a beautiful day for it, and we started off with a few stories and a leisurely woodland walk to appreciate the fall leaves...

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A Red-tailed hawk flying against a bright blue sky. A man stands on a woodland trail surrounded by yellow and orange leaves on the trees, but he holds a single bright yellow Tulip tree leaf in his hand. A cat in a sweater and harness who is being carried along the trail stares intently at something off-screen. Three people walk along a sunlit woodland trail in fall.
November 5, 2025 at 9:12 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
If you're at Humber North campus tomorrow (Oct 30), drop by the Learning Resource Commons between 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM to cast your ballot in the Bat Beauty Pageant!

Learn about Ontario's bat species and grab a free batty bookmark courtesy of Humber Libraries IdeaLab 🦇
humber.ca/arboretum/ev...
An event poster features bat silhouettes and a little graphic of a bat wearing a crown and sash. Humber Arboretum Bat Beauty Pageant 2025. Crown the Winning Bat. Cast Your Vote. Learn about Ontario's amazing bat species. Vote for your favourites! Free bat bookmarks. Thursday October 30. Drop in 10:30 Am to 1:30 PM at the Learning Resource Commons (LRC) Concourse. For more info visit humber.ca/arboretum/events. Logos of the Humber Arboretum and Humber Library.
October 29, 2025 at 5:44 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
How much do you get done before 6 AM?
Earlier this week one of the locals was up before the dawn, really living up to the "busy beaver" name:

🦫 #Wildlife #Mammals #TrailCam
October 28, 2025 at 6:01 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Leaf senescence season is in full swing.
See you in the spring, chlorophyll!
Looking up at leaves changing to orange, yellow, and red against a bright blue sky.
October 16, 2025 at 4:08 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Welcome new Humber Polytechnic students!

If you're coming to North Campus for Orientation today, say hello during the Services Fair in the Learning Resource Commons from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

(Our table is the only one where you can hold a deer antler. Just sayin')

humber.ca/orientation/...
A promotional image with the text Service Fair shows a large group of people mingling among information tables in a recessed area, with a large banner that reads WELCOME at the entrance.
August 29, 2025 at 1:30 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Today the seed-eating American Goldfinches were out in force in the Centre for Urban Ecology's pollinator garden.
#birds
A yellow songbird with a black cap and black on his wings perches on a long flower stem, right next to the flower head which has gone to seed. There is a smidgen of seed poking out of the corner of his beak.
August 26, 2025 at 8:12 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
On Thursday August 21, join staff from the Arb and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) for "All About Bats," an outdoor presentation and bat-listening walk, from 7 PM to 9 PM.

Free, but space is limited and pre-registration is required: www.eventbrite.ca/e/all-about-...
A semi-transparent silhouette graphic of a large bat flies over the Centre for Urban Ecology at night.
August 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
We do have 10 Research Grade damselfly species, with the most observations of Powdered Dancers, American Rubyspots, and Ebony Jewelwings.

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A Powdered Dancer damselfly with a pale blue thorax, brown abdomen, and clear wings perches on a leaf in bright sunlight. Photo/observation by Marilyn Campbell. Two small brownish damselflies are stick together in the act of mating. The one in front has bright red patches on their wings, right where the wings meet the thorax, hence the name American Rubyspot. Photo/observation by Marilyn Campbell. A striking Ebony Jewelwing damselfly with a shiny blue body and fully black wings. Photo/observation by Marilyn Campbell.
August 6, 2025 at 5:57 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Today it's dragonflies! There are currently 66 observations in the Arb's iNat project, representing 12 different species.

The Blue Dasher leads the pack with 14 observations, followed by the Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Autumn Meadowhawk, and Common Whitetail:
inaturalist.ca/observations...

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A Blue Dasher at the Arb. A large, sturdy dragonfly with mottled green eyes, brown and green vertical stripes on their body, and a powder blue tail with black tip, perches on a pond plant. Photo/observation by Marilyn Campbell. A Twelve-spotted Skimmer at the Arb. A large dragonfly with alternating black and blue markings on their otherwise clear wings is perched on a tall plant, with the bridge over the pond visible in the background. Photo/observation by Mike Naumoff. An Autumn Meadowhawk. A red dragonfly with four clear wings that have a single small mark on the top edge. spotted in November, this dragonfly is perched on the yellow knit of what seems to be a scarf or winter hat. Photo/observation by Mike Naumoff. A Common Whitetail. A large dragonfly with a pale blue abdomen with a black tip, and clear wings marked with a thick band of dark brown is sitting in a flat gray rock. Photo/observation by Jimmy Vincent.
August 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Today the nature campers enjoyed learning about some of Ontario's native reptile species with Scales Nature Park. After the presentation they were able to handle some of the snakes, and Scales staff commented on how gentle and respectful the entire group was. No surprise to us!
🐍 #NatureConnection
A person wearing a Scales Nature Park t-shirt holds a Blanding's Turtle, demonstrating how to safely hold a turtle with both hands, called the hamburger hold. A child with a Foxsnake draped around his neck smiles happily. A young man smiles at the Foxsnake draped over his shoulders. A girl gentle pets the head of the snake draped over her shoulders.
July 30, 2025 at 7:55 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Today's the last day to register for Wilderness Survival Skills week at Nature Camp!

Ages 5 and 6 are waitlisted, but we still have room for more 7- to 12-year-olds to join us.

Mon July 21 to Fri July 25
North Etobicoke ( #Toronto )

Register by 11:59 PM tonight:
humber.ca/arboretum/le...
Two campers work together with a leader to try to start a fire using the bow technique.
July 14, 2025 at 4:58 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Meet Celosia Flamma Orange, one of the All-America Selection winners in our AAS display beds. AAS is a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing the best-performing new garden varieties.

Explore all the AAS Winners growing at the Arb this year: humber.ca/arboretum/ex...

#BloomScrolling
A bright orange celosia with long pointed green leaves and compact vertical flower branches, which make it look like a flame. In the background more of the same plants stand tall, and a white sign with a blue header is in the soil in front of them.
July 10, 2025 at 12:04 AM
humberarb.bsky.social
Today's the last day to register for Brilliant Birds Nature Camp next week! Ages 5 and 6 are waitlisted, but we still have room for campers aged 7 to 12: humber.ca/arboretum/le...

We're excited to have Wild Ontario visiting again - here are a few photos from last year.

#Toronto #Mississauga
Campers and leaders sit outside on the grass at the Humber Arboretum in front of two presenters, one of whom has an American Kestrel perched on her hand. Leaders smile and the children look intently at the kestrel, after the presenter has crouched down so they can get a closer look. A camper reaches out to feel the feathers on taxidermied wings that a presenter is holding out to him. Inside the Centre for Urban Ecology, older campers look up at a presenter with a Barred Owl on her gloved hand. The owl, however, is looking straight into the camera, rather than at the kids.
July 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Registration is now open for Nature Camp!

The Arb's summer camp is all about getting kids outside and curious about the natural world.

Located in North Etobicoke (Toronto)
Nature Camp: Ages 5 to 12
Junior Naturalists: Ages 12 to 14

Learn more and register:
humber.ca/arboretum/le...
A group of campers in raincoats out on a nature trail give the peace sign and show off their muddy hands.
May 30, 2025 at 5:44 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Today's Endangered Species Day, so it's fitting that yesterday these turtles were, uh, working to increase their population.

Snapping Turtles are an Ontario species of Special Concern, which means they're at risk of becoming endangered if we don't act.

Learn how to help 🐢 at ontarioturtle.ca
Two large turtles are on top of each in a shallow pond. The one on the bottom looks up at the camera.
May 16, 2025 at 8:20 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Endangered Species Day is coming up next week, so on Thursday we're inviting staff and students of Humber Polytechnic and U of GH to the 3rd Floor of the North Campus Learning Resource Commons to play Endangered, a cooperative board game about trying to save a species:
humber.ca/arboretum/ev...
A collage of the board game Endangered spread out on a table and a Sea Otter floating in the water with a text bubble that reads "You otter drop by!"
May 12, 2025 at 2:51 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Tomorrow! Join us at the Centre for Urban Ecology to celebrate International Crow and Raven Appreciation Day with "That's Crow Raven!", an afternoon of board games and books organized in partnership with the Humber and U of GH Library.
All are welcome.
humber.ca/arboretum/ev...
Photo of the game Corvids: The Card Game of Trash and Treasure, which features black and white cards with birds such as a Crow and a Magpie, and also the types of objects those birds are known to collect. Added text reads That's Crow Raven. Board Games and Books for Crow and Raven Appreciation Day. Friday April 25, 12:30 pm. In the Centre for Urban Ecology at the Humber Arboretum. Humber dot see eh slash arboretum slash events.
April 24, 2025 at 6:52 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Update: While the water has receded in some areas, there are still large sections of the trail underwater as of this morning. Continue to stay clear and exercise caution near all waterways.
trca.ca/floodnotice/
A river that has run over its banks. A trail is underwater.
April 4, 2025 at 12:32 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Please be aware that a large section the West Humber River Trail has flooded and the water is fast-moving in many places. Stay clear of the entire area, and be aware of flood risks throughout the region. trca.ca/floodnotice/...
A swollen river and water where a trail should be.
April 3, 2025 at 9:12 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Thanks to everyone (human and canine) who came out to learn about aquatic animals with us. Caddisfly larvae and aquatic isopods were the stars of the show, and Humber ECE students who are doing their placement at the Arb had great discussions about biodiversity & encouraging respect for all life.
One person bends down to dip a long-handled net into the water of a pond while another crouches further along the pond's edge. A group of people holding pond nets look into a bucket of water and point at who they see inside. An educator watches as the pond dippers discuss someone in an icecube tray. An aquatic isopod, or sowbug.
April 3, 2025 at 6:50 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Will the sun show up in time for pond dipping? It's hard to say, but it's definitely a good day to think about aquatic animals! Come by the pond closest to the Humber Polytechnic residence buildings at 10 AM to see who's making their home in the water.
humber.ca/arboretum/ev...
All ages Community Pond Dip for World Aquatic Animal Day. Thursday April 3. 10 AM.
April 3, 2025 at 1:24 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Pond dipping is always one of our most popular activities with kids participating in day camp or school field trips. Now everyone gets a chance to try out this activity! Join us on Thursday for a free community pond dip in honour of World Aquatic Animal Day:
www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-...
A girl dips a long-handled net into a pond. A tadpole on a spoon over a bucket of pond water. A bucket of water, dipping net, ice cube tray, spoon, and ID sheet sit by the edge of a pond.
April 1, 2025 at 6:03 PM
humberarb.bsky.social
Here's a little peek behind the scenes of the Arb's Landscape Construction and Maintenance Specialist Talete Gallo working on a new structure. Watch for the finished work to appear on the grounds later this spring.
#PublicGarden #Toronto
Inside a large workshop with landscaping vehicles parked in the background, a man wearing a dust mask uses a power sander on a long arching wooden beam.
March 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM