Kevin Kavanagh

Passionate about plants, birds & biodiversity conservation. Owner of South Coast Gardens, a specialty nursery and landscape design business in southern Ontario.

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

Mystery solved! I'd been wondering what pollinates a Closed Bottle Gentian flower that never opens. Today I found out and was surprised that it was something as large as a bumblebee and that it spent a full minute inside before re-emerging. Nature is just too cool.

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

@seanjamesdesign Sorry...i now see you'd already caught that!

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

@seanjamesdesign Hey Sean. Minor correction. Those are tundra swans! Still a wonderful flyover.

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

Birds and wildlife can seemingly sense impending bad weather. Hoping everyone stays safe (and well fed).

[Gregor Beck @ggbeck]

Nothing like some snow to perk up activity at bird feeders. Shelled peanuts are ever-popular, especially with the Tufted Titmouse and friends. I didn't quite catch them all in these video clips, but a dozen species in 5 minutes on this feeder alone!
#Birds #ONStorm #longpoint

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

@seanjamesdesign Which is turning into the slush that's falling right now! Ugh.

[Birds Canada - Ontario Region @BirdsCanada_ON]

The #LongPoint Biosphere Region Eco-Crawl is Saturday!
See map for locations - stop into @BirdsCanada HQ for the bio-fair, kids drawing workshop & slow-birding walks. You can also visit #Bayfest.
Register: https://t.co/iriM1ZP2hD #NorfolkCounty #Ontario #LakeErie #Birds #Nature

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

@seanjamesdesign The late fall seeds are also an incredibly important natural food source for late fall migrating sparrows, especially white-throated and white-crowned sparrows. Many other winter seed eating birds benefit from these plants as well.

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

@Volunteer4Birds @BirdsCanada You're the best! Thanks for your support!

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

@NatureDanimal This species was once thought to have occured in the Norfolk area of s. ON. Herbarium specimens were later considered mislabelled from a site just across Lake Erie where it is common. Garden specimens we have here in Norfolk are thriving so conditions are certainly to its liking!

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

Looking forward to supporting the efforts of the Grand Erie Master Gardeners in helping people do more to "garden for nature". This event is open to all interested gardeners.

[Gregor Beck @ggbeck]

Prairie #Warbler: a beautiful and active #bird of semi-open habitat, with a cheerful ascending zee-zee-zee-zee-zee song.

Generally rare in Ontario, Canada, they are locally 'common' breeders in eastern #GeorgianBay and southern Shield habitats.

Anyone know what bug it's eating?

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

Will be presenting at the Simcoe Library tomorrow on gardening with native plants & avoiding species that can become invasive in our surrounding natural habitats. Doors open 11:30AM, talk starts at 12 Noon. A fundraiser for the Norfolk Library System. #Norfolk #Gardening #Nature

[Gregor Beck @ggbeck]

There should be avian prizes for song volume adjusted for bird size. If that were the case, #Wrens and R-c Kinglets would surely be among the winners!

I love the loud, tinkling, boisterous song of tiny Winter Wrens emanating from shady #Hemlock ravines. #NorfolkCounty #LongPoint

[Gregor Beck @ggbeck]

Beautiful white fungi cling to a tree trunk against the verdant greens of a #Carolinian #forest in spring. The subtle back-lighting seems to add to the ecological intimacy - and to the contrasts implicit with #fungi and the new growth.

#nature #hiking #NorfolkCounty

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

@AcreNature Send Evan over to get some flowers from our trees! We have lots.

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

Spring in the nursery gardens. From the subtle beauty of a trillium to the explosion of rhododendrons coming into flower, the gardens are emerging from their winter slumber.

[Gregor Beck @ggbeck]

Nature's clean-up crew. Turkey #Vultures are unsung #bird heroes, serving an incredible ecological role scavenging carrion and cycling nutrients.

They're beautiful in flight and when perched they're regal. Evening light caught the two-tone underwing pattern - and even a scratch!

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

Happy Earth Day everyone! It has been a really busy day! It is such a privilege to share the planet with so many awesome creatures, including this Red Admiral butterfly!

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

@ggbeck Remarkable picture! Happy Earth Day!

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

Very much looking forward to being a part of Haldimand's Seedy Sunday event! South Coast Gardens will have a booth with an early selection of native plants for sale. My time slot for speaking will be at 12PM on 'The Growing Importance of Gardening for Nature'.

[Kevin Kavanagh @scgardens]

After the warmest winter on record & several high temperature records in the last 2 weeks, spring is roaring ahead with plants flowering 4-6 weeks ahead of normal. Temps are now forecast to dip below freezing (as low as -6C) over the next 2 weeks so there will be losses. Arrggh!