Finding Flowers Project

Finding Flowers is an interdisciplinary research project that explores the connections between people, land and pollinators through ecology, art and pedagogy.

We are based out of the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change at York University. Finding Flowers is supported in part by funding from the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund #NFRF

@YorkUEUC @HealthResearchInCanada @nserccanada @RESEARCHFUNDING

Photos from Finding Flowers Project's post

07/10/2025

We are heartbroken to share the loss of Dr. Sheila Colla, an exceptional colleague, beloved friend, and an inspiration to us all.

Her passing leaves an immense void, as she was a driving force who united people to create meaningful, lasting change in the world.

Sheila worked tirelessly for social and environmental justice, and her efforts taught us invaluable lessons about life and respect for animals, plants, and humans alike.

As the cofounder and ecological leader of Finding Flowers, a project she initiated with Lisa Myers , Sheila explored innovative approaches to caring for pollinators and plant ecologies, pushing boundaries and bridging distant disciplines.

We are forever grateful for the opportunity to learn from Sheila's brilliance, profound compassion, and poignant humor. Her presence in our lives was a gift.

Rest in peace and power dear Sheila. 💔

06/17/2025

Excited to be releasing Episode 2 of "Sounds Like Land" this Wednesday June 18!

Listen to it on our website www.soundslikeland.ca
on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any of our platforms!

04/14/2025

🐚 We are elated to share our brand new website with you all!

www.soundslikeland.ca

🐾 Head there to learn more about our project, 🎙️ listen to our trailer for season one, 🧶 meet our team and collaborators, 🪸check our resources, and visit us soon as we drop our first episodes in the coming weeks. 🌝

🪱 Link in bio!

03/20/2025

The 2025 Eco Arts and Media Festival 𝐹𝓊𝑔𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝐸𝒸𝑜𝓁𝑜𝑔𝒾𝑒𝓈 is rolling at until next Friday March 28th, when we will kick off our new podcast “Sounds Like Land” . Check out the amazing interdisciplinary program and join us for the soft launch!

Link in bio

03/20/2025

Find us this week and next at the 2025 Eco Arts and Media Festival 𝐹𝓊𝑔𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓋𝑒 𝐸𝒸𝑜𝓁𝑜𝑔𝒾𝑒𝓈 at and around . Join us on Friday March 28th, 2:30pm for the soft launch of our new podcast “Sounds Like Land” . Check out the amazing interdisciplinary program!

Link in bio

Last week, we launched a fundraiser for Dr. Sheila Colla (@savewildbees), who has dedicated her life’s work to the conservation of bees. When I learned that Sheila had been diagnosed with a rare cancer, I wanted to help. Under Sheila’s guidance, I painted a series of endangered bumblebees, which was a joy to make — I thoroughly loved researching and drawing these fuzzy pollinators, and incorporating Sheila’s feedback to make sure they were round enough and colourful enough on the right parts.

With these illustrations, I created archival art prints and postcard sets, available now via Silver Antelope, from which 100% of the profits will go to Sheila to support her through this difficult time. These beautiful bees make for lovely holiday gifts for gardeners, teachers, and lovers of nature, and the gifts will in turn support a beloved member of our community. To learn more or to purchase, please go to bit.ly/BeesForSheila.

12/18/2023

We are really happy to see so many people support our beloved Sheila Colla in such meaningful ways! Look at the beautiful pieces and contribute if you can!

Last week, we launched a fundraiser for Dr. Sheila Colla (@savewildbees), who has dedicated her life’s work to the conservation of bees. When I learned that Sheila had been diagnosed with a rare cancer, I wanted to help. Under Sheila’s guidance, I painted a series of endangered bumblebees, which was a joy to make — I thoroughly loved researching and drawing these fuzzy pollinators, and incorporating Sheila’s feedback to make sure they were round enough and colourful enough on the right parts. With these illustrations, I created archival art prints and postcard sets, available now via Silver Antelope, from which 100% of the profits will go to Sheila to support her through this difficult time. These beautiful bees make for lovely holiday gifts for gardeners, teachers, and lovers of nature, and the gifts will in turn support a beloved member of our community. To learn more or to purchase, please go to bit.ly/BeesForSheila.

09/25/2023

Have you visited Finding Flowers’ 𝓞𝓷𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓖𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓼 yet?

Our 𝓞𝓷𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓖𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓼 are inspired in Mike MacDonald’s garden artworks located in Banff, Edmonton, Halifax and along the Haldimand Tract, in ON.

The 𝓞𝓷𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓖𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓼 are an interactive virtual platform that aims to be a place of gathering and sharing experiences and knowledge within these on-line and on-the-land gardens.

When you visit the gardens you can wander through them, and we invite you to tend to them by leaving a reflection, photo, video, and /or audio that relates to the different forms of life existing on these sites!

Link in bio!

02/28/2023

More documentation of the re-planting of Mike MacDonald’s butterfly garden at the MSVU Art Gallery last June.

This garden follows the design and plant composition that Mike created for the original garden in 1997. For this iteration, we sourced plants from local nurseries and received generous plant donations from the community!

We can’t wait to see this beautiful garden grow and transform throughout the seasons!

Photos by MSVU Art Gallery Staff.

# gardenart