ROMBus

Recreating Ontario’s Historic Natural Past: Turkey Point

Step into the natural beauty and ecological wonders of southwest Ontario on a captivating day trip led by renowned ROM botanist Deborah Metsger. Explore one of the province’s rarest landscapes— from Carolinian forests to prairie grasslands—found only along the shores of Lake Erie. Leaving Toronto behind, our journey begins with a visit to a beautifully restored 19th-century home in the quaint hamlet of Normandale, where native plants and trees are bringing historic gardens like this home’s back to life.

Then, we’ll continue to South Coast Gardens, a lush nursery and reclaimed Carolinian woodlot with serene walking trails. From there we break for a relaxing lunch at Marshview Patio, which overlooks a vibrant wetland teeming with wildlife and rare vegetation. The day wraps up with a gentle hike through a rare and recovering ecosystem, offering an up-close look at ongoing conservation efforts. Your visit supports the vital mission to protect and preserve these unique natural spaces for future generations.

All trip participants will receive a take home gift pack of native plant seedlings to plant on return to Toronto:

• Butterfly Milkweed (full sun, great for Monarchs)
• Stiff Goldenrod (full sun, attracts adult Monarchs in their fall migration (and other pollinators)
• Virginia Mountain Mint (full sun to part shade – a powerhouse plant for attracting pollinators).
• Gray-headed Coneflower (Full sun – long lasting yellow flowers in mid-summer; goldfinch relish the seeds)
• Golden Ragwort (Shade, spring flowering)