december 2025 holiday floral design and flower show

APRIL 8, 2026 at 7 pm

Topic: Forest Bathing for Spring Wellness
Presenter: Emma Rooney
Forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku) began in Japan as a preventative health practice and is now taking root in Toronto as more people discover the benefits of spending intentional time in nature. Join certified Forest Therapy Guide and horticultural therapy practitioner Emma Rooney for a practical introduction to forest bathing and Canada’s nature prescription program (PaRx), endorsed by the Canadian Medical Association. Emma will share simple, realistic ways gardeners can bring these ideas into everyday life this spring.
No hiking required — your own garden, a favourite park bench, or a short neighbourhood walk can all support your wellbeing through a simple nature practice.

Emma’s forest bathing programs were recently featured in Trellis, the magazine of the Toronto Botanical Garden, reflecting the growing role of nature connection in community health and wellbeing. Link to article: https://issuu.com/torontobotanicalgarden/docs/trellis_spring_2026/6?utm

Emma Rooney is the founder of Blooming Caravan, a Toronto-based initiative offering forest therapy, horticultural therapy, and nature-based creative programs that support wellbeing and connection. She is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT) and a member of Nature and Forest Therapy of Canada.

Emma works with community organizations and older adults across Toronto and currently serves as Creative Director at The Bitove Method, an arts-based day program. Her work focuses on helping people reconnect with nature through simple, accessible practices rooted in seasonal awareness and care.

This is a HYBRID meeting (Zoom and in-person at Frankland Community Centre @ 816 Logan Ave. Toronto

PHOTO CONTEST TOPIC: Raindrops...Any plant!

GUESTS & NEW MEMBERS ARE WELCOME! To participate as a guest, email us at info@riverdalehorticultural.ca  by 12:00 pm the day of a presentation.

Photo credit: Christian Teasdale, Mosaic Home Care

The Riverdale Horticultural Society’s worm castings fundraiser is running again this year!

The bags are the same size as 2025, about 20L and will weigh around 11 Kg (25 pounds). We only have one size of bag available.  Price per bag is $15.

To place your order, email

RHSwormcastings@gmail.com

Pick up dates:  

Saturday, May 9 12 noon – 4:00pm   21 Garnock Ave (place order by May 6)

Only pre-placed and confirmed orders will be filled, cash payment due on pickup.

 Pick up dates are rain or shine, but we reserve the right to re-schedule in case of extreme weather.

Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers for stepping up to help make this happen. 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 at 7 pm ZOOM ONLY

Every garden will eventually face some natural disasters and some human-made disasters. Learn what they are and how to combat, manage or live in harmony with them. From Japanese beetles to squirrel invasions, to fungal diseases, tree issues, and invasive plants, we’ll cover the top ones and give you the strategies to face them head on.

Ginnie is a Master Gardener and a retired logistics professional, with a passion for native plant gardening and restoration of our lands. She volunteers with not only the Toronto Master gardener, but the Toronto Nature Stewards and is actively restoring a ravine. She is restoring a ravine on her property by replacing invasive plants with hundreds of native plants, shrubs and trees. Other volunteer interests include the Etobicoke Humane Society, Global Medic, packing kits for humanitarian aid and knitting newborn hats and IZZY dolls for Health Partners International Canada.

This is a ZOOM ONLY meeting

PHOTO CONTEST TOPIC: Explosion of Colours

GUESTS & NEW MEMBERS ARE WELCOME! This is a  Zoom only, meeting. To participate as a guest, email us at info@riverdalehorticultural.ca  by 12:00 pm the day of a presentation.