The Corner Pollinator Garden and Wildlife Habitat
Plant it and they will come
Here, I continue listing shrubs that bloomed in my hedgerow each week during the spring of 2024. With the cooler spring we're having so far in 2025, I expect everything to bloom later this year. Before I begin, I want to mention a few resources for planning your own hedgerow. The Ottawa Field Naturalists' Club … Continue reading Continuous blooms in my hedgerows: part 2, late May and June, 2024
Eight years ago, when I began learning about native plants, I read an out-of-print book called Noah's Garden: Restoring the Ecology of Our Own Backyards. In it, Sarah Stein discussed the wildlife habitat potential of suburban hedgerows. So I began planting native shrubs around the perimeter of our yard to create my own hedgerows. I … Continue reading Continuous spring blooms in my hedgerows: part 1, April and early May, 2024
Over the past few years, violent storms have blown through our neighbourhood, knocking down numerous mature trees. As a result, there is less shade on our dog-walking routes and less habitat for birds. Last summer (2023), I decided to plant new trees in our yard to make up for the trees that are now missing … Continue reading Creating my backyard mini-forest
There was a lot of pollinator and bird activity in the yard during the last weeks of August. Cedar Waxwings visit the stream (August 16, 2023) I often hear Cedar Waxwings around, but rarely see them at the stream. I was lucky enough to see this pair. They both insisted on bathing at the top … Continue reading In the garden: August 16 to 31, 2023
Throughout August, some interesting migratory birds have been visiting the garden and stream. Hummingbird visitor (August 2, 2023) A few times, I spotted a hummingbird at the patches of Cardinal Flowers in the backyard. In the past, I've scared hummingbirds away trying to approach them to get good photos, so I left this one alone … Continue reading In the garden: August 1 to 15, 2023
Photos from the garden in late July ... Winecups (July 17, 2023) A few years ago, I bought several species of Winecup seeds from Prairie Moon Nursery. Winecups are showy prairie native flowers of varying heights -- Callirhoe involucrata grows low to the ground, digitata is 3 feet tall, and bushii is in between. It … Continue reading In the garden: July 16 to 31, 2023
In July, the forest fire smoke wasn't as bad here in Ottawa, and we finally got much-needed rain -- lots of it. Raccoon family (June 30, 2023) I prefer to work in the garden early in the morning or in the evening to avoid the heat. A few times I've seen raccoons climbing down a … Continue reading In the garden: July 1 to 15, 2023
In June, choking smoke from Quebec forest fires and hot, humid weather kept me indoors a lot, so I only took a few photos. Poke Milkweed pods (June 25 and July 20, 2023) I've been growing Poke Milkweed for a few years now. This year for the first time, I have seed pods forming. I … Continue reading In the garden: June 16 to 30, 2023
Here in Ottawa, April weather was very rainy, May was dry and uncomfortably warm, and June has been smoky because of Quebec forest fires. All in all, it's been a challenging time for gardening and taking photos of garden activity. Butterflyway kits being distributed (June 9, 2023) I’ve been potting up and distributing free Butterflyway … Continue reading In the garden: June 1 to 15, 2023
Although April's weather varied wildly -- from an ice storm to summer temperatures -- most days were cloudy, dreary, and rainy. As a result, the garden's been slow to get going. Icy start to April (April 5, 2023) The month started with freezing rain and lost power. Freezing rain accumulated on the back patio doors … Continue reading In the garden: April 2023
The Corner Pollinator Garden and Wildlife Habitat 