Hamilton is uniquely fortunate to have the 900 km world-class hiking route running right through the spine of the city. Autumn is the best time to explore it. At last, it’s autumn. The one time of year when if someone tells you to “take a hike” they really…

The city has some amazing canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding opportunities that are accessible for beginners and give a view of the city you might not have seen before. This fall, if you find yourself driving from Dundas to Hamilton along Cootes Drive, keep your eyes open. You…

The nesting of these large majestic birds is a huge success story for the Royal Botanical Gardens’ efforts to restore Hamilton's ecological gem. When I was eight or so, my family took a trip to Waterton Lakes National Park on the Alberta/Montana border. The highlight of the trip…

It may be illegal to keep hens and roosters within the city limits of Hamilton, but backyard chickens are a great addition to urban life. Driving through the tony neighbourhood of Kirkendall South a few years ago, you might have been surprised to see an escape artist chicken…

Our beloved Norway maple, which provided hours of shade in the backyard, had to come down. That has led to a search for a native species that will provide food for birds and insects, grow quickly, withstand our hot summers and be resistant to pollution. Read on for…

Annual migration of hawks, vultures and falcons brings these hunting birds back to our area, lifted by the thermals created by the Niagara escarpment. If you’re like me, then driving this time of year can be a real hazard. It’s not the sudden unexpected snow squalls or foggy…