HOW COULD ONE NOT BE INTERESTED IN THE FASCINATING LIVES OF INSECTS. EACH LIFE IS SO UNIQUE AND THE MORE WE LEARN, THE MORE THERE IS TO KNOW

The insects in the gallery have been photographed in their natural environment, and the gardens surrounding our family home in rural Muskoka. The property began with a small cabin in the 1970's and after many long, carefree summer days as a cottage, it became our year-round residence.

The natural setting, once a place of childhood exploration continues to provide endless hours of nature study. The landscape is comprised of open sunny areas with exposed barren rocks set against a backdrop of forested hills. The forests are temperate, predominantly maple, oak and elm.  ​

The region of Muskoka is on the traditional land and treaty territory of the Anishinaabeg, which includes the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi nations - a historic alliance known as The Council of Three Fires.

My interest in insects began years ago, but when I recently learned the Ojibwe word for insects, it solidified my belief that insects are messengers. The Ojibwe word is Manidoosh and the literal translation is 'little souls'. It is rooted in an ecological relationship to the land.