Meeting Activities: Speaker, Master Gardeners (available for questions), Flower Show. Click here for Flower Show details

Guest Speaker: Cathy Kavassalis

Topic: Gardens that Give Back

Floods, heatwaves, and vanishing wildlife can feel overwhelming, yet every patch of soil can help. In this science‑rich session, Master Gardener Cathy Kavassalis reveals how climate‑smart design—converting lawn to habitat‑rich plantings, harvesting stormwater in rain gardens, selecting keystone native species, and ditching invasive ornamentals—delivers outsized rewards: cleaner air and water, cooler microclimates, stronger communities, and flourishing birds, butterflies, and bees. Packed with actionable tips and inspiring case studies, “Gardens That Give Back” will equip Etobicoke gardeners to create resilient, beautiful spaces that truly serve people and the planet.

Bio:

Cathy Kavassalis is a passionate gardener and conservationist.
She is a Master Gardener and loves to answer questions posed in the popular Master Gardeners of Ontario Facebook forum.

Cathy loves to garden and believes that caring for plants is critical for our well being and that of our planet. She enjoys learning and sharing knowledge and by doing so endeavours to stimulate interest and awe in the living world.