Mushrooming, Foraging & Native Pollinator Gardens in Toronto

Join us for a talk with authors Diane Borsato and Lorraine Johnson

Co-presented by Museum of Toronto and Spacing Store

Uncover how Toronto's unique world of plants and mushrooms is right at your fingertips.

This talk on local foraging brings together authors Diane Borsato and Lorraine Johnson. Join us for an exploration of the colourful, beautiful, and occasionally peculiar plants found within Toronto’s cityscape.

Discover the dizzying array of mushrooms you can find in the city — both delicious and deadly kinds. Then, shift your attention to native plants, exploring how they support the lives of essential pollinators like native bees and butterflies.

About Diane Borsato and Lorraine Johnson

Diane Borsato is an award-winning artist, writer, amateur mycologist, orchardist and beekeeper - who works closely with other artists and amateur naturalists.  She has performed and exhibited and galleries and museums across Canada and internationally. She co-edited Outdoor School: Contemporary Environmental Art (2021) with Amish Morrell, and most recently is the authour of MUSHROOMING: The Joy of the Quiet Hunt (2022). She is also an Associate Professor of Experimental Studio at the University of Guelph, where she teaches courses exploring conceptual art, video and performance art; along with social, site-responsive and environmental art practices.

Lorraine Johnson is the author of more than 10 books on diverse subjects including native plant gardening, urban agriculture, and environmental issues. Her most recent book is A Garden for the Rusty-Patched Bumblebee: Creating Habitat for Native Pollinators, co-authored with Sheila Colla. Lorraine’s work focuses on biodiversity and habitat gardening in the context of climate change; on advocating for the reform of grass and weeds bylaws in support of biodiversity and ecological health; on municipal policy change to support urban food production (for example, legalizing urban hens), and on land stewardship as relationship-building in the context of reconciliation.

About the Museum of Toronto

We are Toronto's city museum. We offer experiences that tell the histories of Toronto. Enjoy our programming in our downtown exhibition space, throughout the city, and online.

Museum of Toronto is Getting Toronto, Together. We are made possible with the generous support of Diane Blake and Stephen Smith.

About the Spacing Store

Since 2004, Spacing magazine has been creating unique Toronto-centric merchandise, including the now iconic Toronto Subway Station buttons and magnets.

Opening in 2014, the Spacing Store has become to the go-to location for authentic merchandise that captures the spirit of Toronto and its neighbourhoods. We work directly with designers, artists, and makers who are producing unique objects that celebrate our city.

What is Toronto Gone Wild?

Toronto Gone Wild is our latest exhibition.

Toronto Gone Wild explores the city as a multi-layered habitat — starring the animals, plants, and insects that call Toronto home.

You will venture through different Torontonian terrains from city streets to burrows, hives, and nests, all seamlessly woven together in our downtown exhibition space.

See for yourself just how much we share with our animal neighbours in the struggle for food, housing, and community. You may have more in common with that white squirrel at Trinity Bellwoods than you think.