Planting wildflowers along the highway, covering the middle and sides with colour, possibly fragrance, and something that does not need to be mowed, sounds like a great idea. I thought so too. Until I thought more about it.

Wildflowers will attract more insects, small animals and bigger animals to the busiest roads which will not be good for their continued health. Between animals becoming roadkill and people trying not to hit them, it could be dangerous for both.

Seeds from some will create havoc when they blow around. Others cause allergies for people which will be distracting for drivers.

Also, just because they do not need to be mowed, does not mean there is no maintenance at all. People would have to go along a lot of highway to keep plants from growing into the road ways. That would not be free: gas, wages, vehicles and maintenance of vehicles, equipment... Probably other things I haven't thought of yet.

You may think all that unused land could even grow something useful, harvestable even. Herbs could work better than wildflowers. But, still have some of the same issues.

Any plants chosen to grow this way would need to be hardy, drought resistant, grow over spring, summer, and fall (not be dormant and leave bare ground for most of the year - which would give space for all those so called weeds to re-seed and not look pretty), not grow very tall or spread too much. This is probably one reason plants we call weeds are left to grow along the highways.

I love the idea, but it isn't as simple as it seems.

Many years ago, when I was a child, I asked my Uncle "Why don't people still make their own cars, as they did in the early days?" He explained about costs, parts, etc. Pretty much as this post does about the idea/ chance of a Canadian made car.

I can't remember hearing about Canadian car companies mentioned: Bricklin Canada Ltd. and Russell Motor Car Co. But, I haven't been interested in vehicles other than some history and what cars could be like in the future, especially self driving cars and cars which don't use fossil fuels.

Also, those small cars (sometimes labelled as personal transport, which only seem drivable in the summer here) made by unknown companies without a huge marketing budget. (I think people should be driving smaller cars instead of giant SUV's that take up an entire parking space and consume a lot fuel for a trip to the corner store with one person in the vehicle).

Could Canadian car makers start, or bring fresh life (and marketing), to a Canadian made small /micro car with fresh technology and specifications that work with our Canadian climate? An actual custom made car for Canadians.

That makes the idea far more interesting for me. Would you drive a micro car like the Isetta?

My sister wouldn't. She loves her SUV because its huge. She likes intimidating other drivers and she is a VERY aggressive driver. Far too much. I think this is why the huge truck/ cars have become popular. After learning to drive in my sister's huge tank of a car, my niece thinks driving a small car would be unsafe. But, what makes a small car less safe is the aggressive drivers on the roads. If huge cars were marketed as unpopular choices, a small Canadian made car could be more than just a niche vehicle.

From The Financial Post - Could a Canadian car company finally happen in 2026?

Canada’s history is littered with failed ideas for car companies — think Bricklin Canada Ltd. and Russell Motor Car Co. — but circumstances have made the idea of starting a Canadian automotive company worth considering once again, says a new report.

Intense competition, the need for billions of dollars in capital and the inherent complexity of designing a road-safe vehicle all create stumbling blocks for any new company looking to produce automobiles.

“It’s probably something that won’t happen,” said Brendan Sweeney, managing director of the Trillium Network, a nonprofit at Western University in London, Ont., and co-author of the report, In Shifting Gears: The Potential for a Canadian Car Company.

The report said the Canadian auto sector is facing a turning point, in part because U.S. automakers’ domination of the sector has been slowly eroding for two decades, long before Trump enacted his tariffs.

In 2005, U.S.-headquartered automakers owned assembly plants that accounted for 74 per cent of all vehicles built in Canada. Today, they account for less than half, while Japanese-based automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. own plants that account for the majority of vehicles produced.

On the sales side, Canada imports roughly 90 per cent of the vehicles its residents purchase in any given year. U.S.-built vehicles no longer dominate there, either.

Sweeney said "Canadians buy around 1.6 million to 1.9 million vehicles every year, making it a large marketplace by global standards".

“The Canadian market could absorb enough cars to help a (homegrown) company get started,” he said. “But then we’d also have to find other markets.”

The traditional auto production sector includes five foreign automakers that produce around 1.3 million to 1.5 million vehicles every year, but there are also many Canadian-owned parts companies and companies that make buses, armoured trucks, ambulances and other specialized or niche vehicles.

In the Waterloo, Ont., region, where many companies work with auto-sector players specializing in artificial intelligence and software. Other companies that develop, build and operate nuclear power generating stations might lend technological expertise or capital allocation expertise to a fledgling company, the report said.

But building a Canadian car company is such a massive undertaking that it would likely require some partnership among a series of companies, each bringing a different expertise, the report said.

The authors said such a company could even link up with a well-known Canadian retailer, specifically suggesting Canadian Tire Corp. Ltd.

I also found this from TO Times - Micro Cars Are Coming to the 2026 Canadian International AutoShow

Some very rare and extremely small collectible vehicles will be prominently on display at the Canadian International AutoShow taking place from February 13th to 22nd at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Due to their rarity, many showgoers may never have heard of this unique type of vehicle, known as a Micro Car.

Micro cars, built largely between 1945 and 1970, were ultra-compact vehicles defined by tiny engines (usually under 700 cc), lightweight construction, short overall length, and often quirky features such as three wheels, one- or two-cylinder two-stroke motors, chain-drive systems, and unconventional doors like the BMW Isetta’s famous front-entry single door.

Born out of post-war necessity for basic transportation, companies such as Messerschmitt, BMW, Heinkel, and Zündapp shifted from wartime production to small personal vehicles as Europe rebuilt and mobility demand grew. With fuel rationing, limited resources, narrow streets, and scarce private parking, small, efficient, and affordable cars quickly became highly desirable in post-war Europe.

Models like the Autobianchi, Berkeley, BMW Isetta, Fiat 500, Daihatsu Midget, Heinkel Kabine, Vespa 400, Subaru 360, Bond Bug, Citroën 2CV, Peel P50, Honda Z600, Messerschmitt, and Goggomobil defined the micro car boom of the 1950s and ’60s. While they remained popular in Europe for years, these small cars rapidly faded from the North American market as tastes shifted toward larger vehicles and the emerging muscle-car era.

Blog TO - Controversial billionaire's tiny micro-car could be pitched as next fix for Toronto traffic

I read the title "3 Ways to Keep a Naturalist's Notebook" and felt that buzz of inspiration. But, reading the post, it was just about other people's projects, people long gone and famous for their other writing. It wasn't what I was hoping for. I wanted something, fresh, something on the scale of in my own backyard versus famous places and perfect settings. So, what was there to do but collect my own ideas for a backyard naturalist, like myself.

First of all, if you don't have a backyard, there is a whole world out there. Take a look at a local public place like a church, cemetery, park, or get creative. Being a naturalist isn't just about walking around in a forested area. Studying urban areas is important too. Even if you walk on paved ground instead of grass, nature can be found. Not even just outdoors!

Make notes about what you see. Including illustrations. Don't try creating masterpieces with your drawings. They can just add to your words as you find more to be curious about, or make note of. If you make a digital notebook you can add digital photos. Later you can look into a magnifying glass and fancier equipment. But, the main thing is to see what you discover while its still out there to be seen. Technology and more equipment can be distracting and time consuming. To start with at least, stick to a pencil and notebook for quick notes.

What can you find in your immediate, local ecosystem? Learn to identify different plants growing in your backyard. What types of grass are in your lawn? What are the "weeds" you see? Watch for animals in your yard, not just birds. What do they find to eat and how do they eat? Do they interact or avoid each other? Add details like the location, season, the weather, time of day, colours, texture, how they move (or blow in the wind), so many details you can think to add once you get started.

Consider all your senses when making observations and notes: sight, sound, smell, hearing and touch. Include your sixth sense, your feelings, too. Avoid touching poisonous plants. Try not to disturb animals and plants in general. That doesn't mean you can't touch things around you, just learn to understand them without endangering or upsetting them. You don't want to harm life while studying life - be responsible for your actions, not a bumbling professor uncaring/ thoughtless about the chaos your actions can create.

How does the environment affect the natural world? The environment can include the location, traffic from vehicles or people, buildings, sidewalks, fences, a river, trees, everything. I think of the odd weed poking up in an otherwise pristine sidewalk. There is the natural world surviving in the environment it finds itself in.

Take time and return. You may see something interesting while busy and make quick notes before moving along. But, plan ahead and choose a time and location where you are not rushed and can return to again and again. Things change in the natural world. You need more than one visit. Try a sunny day and later a rainy day, even in the same week.

You could make a study of just one weed growing where it manages to get a start. What changes day by day? What struggles does that weed have? Does it grow to full height or remain stunted? Does it produce flowers or seeds? If someone pulls it out, does it have enough root to grow back? Endless questions and observations.

Don't forget the motto (used by urban explorers) "take only photographs, leave only footprints". Whatever you bring with you should leave with you, no littering. On the other hand, don't remove things from their environment. Instead hope you will see them/it again next time you visit. I make an exception for seeds and clippings from plants which you could add to your notes. But, don't harm the plants, make sure there is enough of it to keep thriving. In some locations you may need to stay on trails, especially in fragile ecosystems. Think of it as the butterfly effect without the time machine.

Dress appropriately. Think about insects (bees and mosquitos). Think about the weather. Bright colours or anything flashy will make it harder to watch animals, no matter how patiently you wait. Bring everything with you in an easy to haul around backpack or something else that works well for you.

Give yourself credit for what you have learned, progress you have made in understanding the ecosystem and new discoveries you make. Celebrate your discoveries. Add to your research by looking into history and lore about the plants and animals in your own backyard. Which plants are edible? Find out about foraging and cooking/ baking with wild plants. Learn tracking skills for seeing where the animals came from and where they go.

Here are some reflection questions to help you choose your next outdoor adventure: What am I excited to learn outside? What would be easy for me to do in the amount of time I have? What would be easy for me to do in the locations I have nearby? What areas of nature study am I most passionate about? What areas of nature study have I not done in awhile? If you ever get stuck and unable to go deeper in a particular area of naturalist curricullum… simply take a break and go study something else for awhile!

Quoted from Brian Mertins, Nova Scotia.

• Discover the World Around You: Your Guide to Becoming an Amateur Naturalist
• Citizen Science 101: What It Is and Why It Matters
• Backyard Naturalist podcast (US based).
• Backyard Naturalist (Australia)

Tis the season for driving along country lanes and finding apple trees loaded with fresh fruit, never picked. Kind of sad those trees that grow forgotten along the road. Once they would have been picked, the apples used in pies or eaten right off the tree. Now people just drive on by and only notice them in passing. Yet those are our history, our heritage.

Next time you see an apple tree stop and pick a few. Some may be bug eaten, but some of the brown patches are only places where it rubbed on the tree branch and not anything you can’t just peel away. It may be the best apple you have ever had, if you give them a chance. Of those I picked almost all were edible, not bug eaten as I expected they would be. One was especially delicious. It’s a shame I don’t know what kind of apple tree it came from.

Would you grow an apple from seed? Have you ever grown a plant from seed? Why not try one, even something tropical or exotic and have it grow by your writing space. Keep your seedling company and let it inspire you with something fresh and growing where you work.