Garden tour teaches how to go native
Halton Master Gardeners is hosting August garden tours of up to 30 Hamilton and area gardens to help teach the techniques and benefits of native plants. Homeowners can apply to be included in the tour until the end of July.
Years ago, I was headed out for an afternoon walk and saw a bylaw vehicle rolling slowly down the street, looking for an address. I was delighted, as I figured they were there to bring some compliance to the rules for the multiple construction sites on our street that we and all our neighbours had been complaining about.
So, imagine my surprise when the car stopped in front of my house, and the bylaw officer headed for my backyard gate.
I quickly rushed back to ask what was going on, and he explained that there had been a complaint about tall weeds in our backyard, and that he needed to investigate.
He was especially concerned, he said as he looked around our native plant-filled yard, with all the ragweed.
“Can you show me where the ragweed is?” I asked.
“It’s all those plants over there,” he replied, pointing to a stand of sunny, golden, frothy flowers.
“Umm … that’s goldenrod,” I replied. “I have to say, it concerns me you are responsible for enforcing weed control bylaws and you can’t correctly identify ragweed.”
There was no citation for me that day, and he and I toured my yard and I explained all our native plants and the roles they played in supporting native pollinator insects. In the end, he was quite amenable to what we were trying to do, namely, create habitat for endangered or at-risk species of native solitary bees, moths, butterflies and fireflies.
Overzealous neighbours and poorly informed bylaw officers are just two of the pitfalls of starting a native plant garden. The other, says Allyn Walsh, a member of the Halton Master Gardeners (HMG), is that would-be gardeners just don’t know where to start.
That’s why she and another volunteer with the HMG are organizing the bi-annual Garden Journeys Open Days.
It’s an opportunity to tour native plant gardens around Hamilton and see what others are doing, and what may be possible for your own yard.
“The purpose is to introduce the public to gardening as a means to support biodiversity and the ecosystem.” Walsh explains. “To demonstrate that these gardens are not only beautiful – not messy or weedy – but they’re also functional.”
The free event features up to 30 gardens across the Hamilton area (including Dundas, Ancaster and Stoney Creek, along with other surrounding cities), and is free to attend.
“By having gardens open for free to anyone who wants to come, they can meet the gardeners and learn and see about native plant gardening.” says Walsh.
The project started during the pandemic. While everyone was at home and unable to travel, or partake in their usual recreation, many people turned to gardening. And many of those gardeners turned to growing native plants.
“It was a hugely popular thing during the pandemic. Fortunately It has carried on,” says Walsh.
However, for those just wanting to get into it now, she is hoping to flatten the learning curve.
“Some of the gardens in the show are by people who are just starting,” Walsh says. “Removing invasives, planting native plants, adding water features, etc. The point is to show people how to just get started. You don’t need to do everything at once.”
In fact, Walsh says it would be unusual to have a fully native plant garden. “Not many gardens are 100 per cent native plants. Often, they have a combination of things to support biodiversity, like managing rainwater, preventing runoff, and providing shelter and food for insects and wildlife. But it’s rare to be all native plants.”
The Garden Journeys Open Days event runs two weekends: Aug. 8-10, and Aug. 15-17. The event is free, and the Halton Master Gardeners will be taking applications from people who would like to show their gardens until the end of July.
In early July, the website will switch from recruiting gardens to sharing the location of the gardens so people can plan their trip.
Walsh cautions that not every garden is open all weekend. “We also want the gardeners who are part of the show to visit the other gardens. Part of the intention is building the community.” In order to do that, gardeners will set times when they are offering tours that will be listed on the website.
The website will also list “sidewalk showcases,” which are the gardens that can be appreciated from the public sidewalk without needing to enter the property. This is helpful if you’re planning to be there outside of the times that tours are being offered.
All the information you need to plan your tour will be available in early July at the Halton Master Gardeners website.
The Garden Journeys Open Days tour will be a great chance to learn about how to naturalize your yard, support pollinator insects, attract birds and other wildlife, and maybe even to identify goldenrod.
Jason Allen is the host of The Environmental Urbanist, Tuesdays at 1 p.m. on 93.3 CFMU, and has been encouraging Hamiltonians to explore the outdoors for almost two decades.
