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Celebrating Ontario's Natural Heritage
A curated guide to the wildflowers, grasses, and perennials that belong here — supporting local ecosystems, attracting pollinators, and bringing lasting beauty to your garden.
100+
Native species
30+
Years teaching
1
Ontario ecosystem
Why it matters
Native plants evolved alongside local wildlife for thousands of years. Choosing them means choosing a healthier, more resilient landscape.
Native plants provide essential habitat and food sources for local birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife.
Adapted to local soils and climate, native plants typically require less water, fertilizer, and care once established.
From spring ephemerals to winter seed heads, native plants offer striking seasonal interest throughout the year.
Meet your guide
Biologist. Educator. Storyteller.
Advocate for the natural world.
Dr. Shelley Ball has spent a career building bridges between people and the natural world. As the founder of Biosphere Environmental Education, her mission is simple and enduring: to connect people to nature, and to inspire them to care about it and protect it.
Shelley holds a Ph.D. in Biology with a specialization in evolutionary ecology and population genetics, and was among the pioneers of DNA Barcoding — a DNA-based tool now used globally to inventory the diversity of life on Earth. With nearly 30 years of teaching experience spanning kindergarten through graduate school, she brings rare breadth to every educational encounter.
Whether she is guiding an expedition through a wilderness landscape, speaking on a conference stage, or crouching in a meadow to identify a wildflower, Shelley brings the same infectious passion: a deep love of nature and an unwavering belief that understanding it is the first step toward protecting it.
Ph.D. in Biology
Evolutionary Ecology & Population Genetics
Antarctic Expedition
Homeward Bound Women in Science, 2016
TEDx Speaker
Ottawa TEDx Conference
~30 Years of Teaching
Kindergarten through graduate school
CFUW Mentoring Award
National winner, 2018
Royal Canadian Geographical Society
Fellow