July 10, 2024
The hardscape has been installed with multiple items that make it wildlife friendly and provide food for birds and safe space for wildlife. There have been many native Ontario plants placed in the garden. They don’t look spectacular this year as it takes a few years for a garden to be established and it will definitely be a process as plants are moved and changed. There are flowers, ferns, and sedges, to add texture to the space.
June 8, 2024
After a long hiatus and two months away working in the Yukon during the early spring that happened in Ontario, the garden is finally taking shape. The hardscape had to go in before the plants could go in. There are many native plants in this garden, next entry I will list them with a link to each one so you can see the benefit to our ecosystem. The winter sown pots almost all grew, however they’re still very tiny. I will be transplanting those into plugs in the next week or so to help them grow into bigger plants. I will likely have some to give away also! If you are interested in starting this journey I would love to offer any guidance and point you in the direction of some great groups. Please check out the resources as there will be an ongoing list of native plant nurseries in this area. I will also be discussing invasive plants, ones that I used to love . . . until I understood the damage they did to the local biodiversity
January 28, 2024
There has been a LOT going on behind the scenes. Planning exactly what the garden might look like, choosing what to plant and doing this super fun thing called WINTER SOWING! That means exactly what it sounds like. Sowing plants in the winter. These photographs show how the process is done. Seeds are planted in pots and covered to keep the bunnies and squirrels out till they become bigger and can withstand the onslaught. The pots are then placed outside and left to Mother Nature. This is the way native plants germinate. They need to have fluctuations in temperature. They will need to be watched in the spring when the snow is gone to ensure they do not dry out. The pots are under that giant pile of snow. This is the first year of winter sowing, so it will be constant learning and experimenting. There are 24 different plants for various conditions. The yard is a combination of sun and shade.
September 26, 2023
We checked under the cardboard and the grass appears to be mostly gone. We trimmed the cardboard and will let the mulch settle over the fall, winter and spring. There will be no need to amend the soil at this time. Now the garden planning begins! Once the weather gets cooler the website will be developed further (it is a work in progress).
Interesting Fact!
Did you know there is a HUGE difference between golden rod and ragweed? People see the gorgeous yellow goldenrod blooming in fields and ditches and assume that is what is triggering their allergies. Goldenrod has over 25 species native to Ontario, has characteristic bright yellow flowers and the pollen is transported by pollinators. It is a very important food source for migrating and soon to go into hibernation pollinators. It blooms at the same time as ragweed, which has rather inconspicuous flowers that produce small lightweight pollen. The pollen of the ragweed is transported in the wind, hence your itchy eyes and runny nose! So before you destroy that plant you assume is the culprit, make sure it is indeed ragweed. Here is a fact sheet for more information.
August 30, 2023
We will be starting by doing what is called ‘lasagna gardening‘ to kill all the grass and create a blank slate for adding flowers, plants and hardscape features. You will see cardboard laid all over the lawn then it will be covered with partially composted bark mulch and left to ‘cook’ for three seasons. The cardboard is best if it has all the tape removed, and minimal ink. It will be a work in progress and we will be learning through trial and error.
