63 h. ago Toxic invasive plant blooming across Ontario could harm you and your pets

With the spring season now in full swing in Ontario, a striking blue plant is appearing in gardens, lawns, and even wooded areas, and while it may look beautiful, the early spring flower is an invasive species that can be toxic to pets and humans if consumed.Originally native to Russia, Siberian Squill (or Scilla) was first introduced to North America as an ornamental plant. Its vibrant blue-violet flowers and ability to thrive in various conditions made it a favourite among gardeners; however, its ability to spread rapidly negatively impacts other local native plant species.The plant's flowers first appear slightly bell-shaped, and these nodding flowers open to be about one inch wide. Flowers can be identified by their six blue petals with a darker stripe down the middle of each petal, and basal leaves that are grass-like and hairless. Following bloom, green and bumpy seed pods form, turning brown once mature.Photo: Dajra/Shutterstock.comThe cold-hardy plant is one of the ...

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2 d. ago Conservatives channel Viagra as record Ontario voters risk killing their mood: Election Power Meter

Easter long weekend was anything but restful for election workers as 7.3 million Canadians flocked to advance polls

Politics

6 d. ago Woman killed after being struck by stray bullet waiting at Ontario bus stop

Hamilton Police said shots rang out on Thursday at around 7:30 p.m. near Upper James and South Bend Road.

Events

2 w. ago Neurotoxic worms growing up to 3ft long are in Ontario and you should kill them on sight

Spring has sprung in Ontario, and with temperatures soaring into the high teens this week, there are some warm-weather creepy-crawlies now emerging that people may want to familiarize themselves with.The wandering broadhead planarian (Bipalium adventitium), or hammerhead worm, was first sighted in Ontario in 2017, and the potentially dangerous invasive species of large carnivorous landworm has been regularly spotted in the years since.And pet owners with gardens should take special note of this threat that could be lurking closer than expected.What is a hammerhead worm?Native to Asia and deemed invasive in North America, hammerhead worms get their nickname from their distinctive T-shaped heads and dark red stripe running down the length of their squirming, slimy bodies. And, like the similarly named hammerhead shark, these worms are efficient predators with voracious appetites.Oh, and they can grow to be three feet long.Hammerhead worms are capable of ecological destruction by ...

Economics

3 w. ago Invasive plant is taking over Ontario but you can help by killing and eating it

The arrival of warm weather has many Ontario residents thinking about gardening season, but your outdoor spaces may already be harbouring a dangerous invasive species known as garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata).But, while this species is capable of choking out native plant life and causing widespread ecological damage, you can do your part by incorporating invasive garlic mustard into a tasty dish.People will say you can't make your problems go away by shoveling in more calories, but this might actually be one instance of a problem we can literally eat our way to fixing.What is garlic mustard and how did it get here?As its name suggests, the plant is an edible herb that offers up a distinctive smell similar to garlic when crushed, though it was this very culinary use that directly led to the havoc this invasive weed is now wreaking on Ontario's natural ecosystems.First introduced to North America from Europe in the 1800s, the plant quickly made the leap from garden pots to the wild...

Events

3 w. ago Ontario man accused of killing girlfriend pleads guilty to murder on eve of trial

A Toronto man accused of killing his on-and-off again girlfriend has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on the eve of his trial.

Events

3 w. ago Man fleeing police caused deadly crash north of London: Watchdog

A driver fleeing from provincial police was responsible for a crash that killed him and seriously injured two others four months ago, Ontario’s police watchdog says

Events

4 w. ago Woman accused of killing three in Ontario unfit to stand trial, court rules

Sabrina Kauldhar has been ordered into a 60-day psychiatric treatment before she'll be reassessed

Events

4 w. ago Judge finds Ontario man not criminally responsible for killing ex

Devret Clarke’s lawyers have argued for a not criminally responsible finding due to Clarke's untreated schizophrenia at the time of Gars Kourjakian's death on Dec. 30, 2022

Events

last month MANDEL: ‘I’m not the captain anymore,’ says man who denies being at wheel during fatal boat crash

A nervous Filip Grkovski took the stand in his own defence, continuing to point the finger at his former friend for the Lake Ontario boat crash that killed two of his passengers. After a late afternoon and night of partying at a “tie-up” with other boats on the water near Centre Island, Grkovski, 41, insisted […]

Events