Garry
oak meadows are some of Canada's most endangered habitats. Now, thanks
to one of CWF's registered Golden Gardens groups, these rare ecosystems
are receiving a boost. The Backyard Gardening Committee of Victoria, British
Columbia, has established a native plant demonstration garden that recreates
a Garry oak meadow. The committee is part of the Native Plant Study Group,
a satellite of the Victoria Horticultural Society.
"We're learning a lot about Garry oak ecosystems," says committee member
Patricia Johnston. "Our plan is to include grasses and wildflowers native
to the ecosystem."
Once widespread in the Victoria area before losing ground to farming, logging, and other developments, these extraordinary habitats have been reduced to tiny remnants on south Vancouver Island and in the Gulf Island region. The Backyard Gardening Committee hopes to recreate at least a piece of this natural legacy.
Much hard work has gone into removing sod and non-native plants, which had overrun the existing terrain, and replacing them with native shrubs, vines, ground cover, perennials, and bulbs. While some of these plants have been obtained through donations, cultivation, and nurseries, the majority have been salvaged from construction sites. "We rescued and replanted over 600 camus bulbs last May and June," says Johnston. "Now we're waiting to see if they like our garden!"
The meadow serves not only to recreate a Garry Oak ecosystem but also to educate the public. The demonstration site is open to visitors, who receive a guide extolling the virtues of native plant gardening. Indigenous plants require no fertilizers, pesticides, or supplemental watering because they are adapted to local climes. They also provide a haven for native animals. Among the creatures spotted at the demonstration site so far have been a Cooper's hawk and numerous woodpeckers.
Another
reward of this native garden is its beauty.
In spring, the meadow is filled with the colours of
blue camas, yellow buttercup, white fawn lily, and
red shooting star. With summer, comes yarrow and
pearly everlasting, while winter brings mosses and licorice fern.
"We rescued and replanted over 600 camus bulbs last May and June," says Johnston. "Now we're waiting to see if they like our garden!"
Photos
courtesy of
The Backyard Gardening Committee of the Native Plant Study Group of the
Victoria Horticultural Society
Left to right:
Ruth Keogh, John Olafson, Pat Johnston, Linda Beare, Jean Forrest, Pam
Sinclair, seated: Lynda Grant