Native Plant Sale- Fletcher Wildlife Garden – Saturday, June 6, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm

By Eloise Collison. Eloise is a freelance writer, organic gardener, and fibre fanatic who lives and writes in Westboro.

One of my favorite gardening events of the year is coming up this weekend.

The Fletcher Wildlife Garden is holding its annual Native Plant sale on June 6^th. There you can buy native plants that have been grown in our area, and that are adapted to local soil and climate. Native plants require little or no watering once they are established, and are pest resistant. By putting plants such as Solomon’s seal and Bloodroot in your garden you are supporting species diversity.

The volunteers and growers at the garden sale will be happy to offer advice about growing and caring for the plants you buy.

Saturday, June 6, 9:30 am – 12:30 pm, at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden (across from the Experimental Farm, on Prince of Wales Drive, south of the Arboretum and traffic circle). For more information, call (613) 730-0714, email sgarland@teksavvy.com, or see www.ofnc.ca/fletcher.php

Other resources for native plant info.

If you are unable to attend the sale, one of the best local sources for beautiful and healthy Native Plants is Old Field Garden and Wildflower Nursery. Old Field promotes habitat restoration and informed experimentation as a way to increase species diversity in areas that have been irreversibly disturbed by development. His plants are largely propagated from seed, and never wild harvested. A tour of the garden is a good way to begin to learn about Native plants available to Ontario gardeners. For more information about tours and seminars contact the garden.

North American Native Plant Society plant sources, seed exchange for members, plant rescue strategies.

Ottawa Horticultural Society gardening articles, links and resources.

Wildflower Farm native seeds, plants, garden design info.