Pollinator patches
We’re working to grow native plants all across Ottawa South! OSEAN volunteers have been saving seeds from their gardens, collecting seeds from the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library and other gardeners, as well as starting seedlings inside and outside to help get more native plant gardens started. We’re supplying free native plants so that local gardeners, in yards, balconies, or patios, can supply the perfect food for bees, butterflies, other pollinators and birds.
Giveaway 2024
Residents of River, Gloucester-Southgate, Capital and Alta Vista Wards will very soon be invited to sign up to receive a kit of pollinator-friendly native plant seedlings.
Garden options: Sunny or a shady
Size: medium and large plant kits, as well as a limited number of 50-plug tray kits for community/school gardens.
Pick-up dates: Thursday May 23 near Mooney’s Bay, possibility of pick-up on Saturday morning May 25 near Mooney’s Bay or in Riverview Park.
As quantities are limited, we will prioritize kits for community and public gardens and also those in Ottawa South neighbourhoods that make our current Butterflyways even better, and decrease the distance that pollinators need to travel.
We gave away 100 free native shrubs in April 2024 and were happy to see such great interest in adding some layers to your gardens.
Plant catalogue
Includes information about growing conditions, best uses, and beginner-friendly plants
Butterflyway Map
We are adding local pollinator patches (with permission) to the OSEAN Ottawa South Butterflyways on the David Suzuki Foundation Butterflyway map to help show the connectedness of native plant food sources across Canada. The garden locations are listed by street or neighbourhood, not by address.
Resources
Read our Program Guide for details on the program.
Visit the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library for information on adding native plants to your garden, including recommendations of local nurseries which sell straight native species.
Watch a presentation by Berit Erickson to learn how to select the right area for your yard, how to prepare that area, and then how to design your patch based on how much sun and shade the area gets. The slides can be found here.
Yard sign
If you’d like to have a yard sign such as the one above, then you can fill out our yard sign form to show your interest, and we’ll get back to you when we’re ready to order and to confirm your request.
Our privately owned land and the ecosystems upon it are essential to everyone’s well-being, not just our own.
-Douglas W. Tallamy
With thanks to our supporters
City of Ottawa (https://ottawa.ca)
Naturaide (http://www.naturaide.ca)
Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library (https://wildflowerseedlibrary.ca)
Ecoasis Landscape Restorations (http://www.ecoasisrestoration.ca)
Fletcher Wildlife Garden (https://ofnc.ca/programs/fletcher-wildlife-garden)
Green Thumb Garden Centre (https://www.greenthumbgarden.ca)