Garden Restoration Project
Mono, ON
There are two parts to this project - garden restoration and meadow restoration. We took two existing gardens and rejuvenated them by removing all weeds and unwanted plants, making them substantially larger, amending the soil, creating a border with reclaimed pine poles, laying flagstone for a maintenance path, and planting a variety of native pollinator plants. In the first garden we planted: Pearly Everlasting, Meadow Sundrops, Large-Leaf Aster, Black-Eyed Susans, Side Oats Gamma, Big & Little Bluestem, Wild Columbine, Dense Blazing Star, and Prairie Smoke.
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The second garden was taken over by Garlic Mustard, and though we carefully pulled it up, it will require ongoing maintenance. For this garden we planted: Hairy Beardtongue, Prairie Smoke, Wild Bergamot, Wild Columbine, Pearly Everlasting, Dense Blazing Star, and Virginia Mountain Mint.
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Lastly, we have begun the first stages of a large meadow restoration at this site. Beginning in Spring 2021, we are picking away at different sections of this currently monocultured meadow in order to bring more biodiversity and soil health to the area. This project will take place over several years. Step 1 was mowing the first section that we are working on this year. Step 2 was tilling the soil to displace weeds. Step 3 was tarping the entire section so that over the summer the remaining living weeds will be killed off. When we came back in Fall 2021, we proceeded to till one last time and then we seeded the area. Then section 2 was mowed, tilled, and tarped. This process will continue in this way until all sections have been re-seeded with native plant seed. We will continue to give updates on this project.
Mowing Section 1
Mowing Section 1
Tilling Section 1
Tilled Section 1
Tarped Section 1