2010 Silver Anniversary Garden Awards
Rural Reclamation
Pat Baldwin: Port Perry, Ontario
Located at the edge of a small town, Pat's 1.77 acre property abuts lakefront land once slated for development. For the past 13 years Pat has worked to provide new habitat for local wildlife that seemed destined for displacement. Gradually she has reduced the amount of lawn, provided wildlife corridors between adjacent properties, added ponds and vernal pools.
New bylaws aimed at restricting natural looking areas in this outer suburb are discouraging. NANPS hopes that Pat's example will motivate more local landowners to stand up for nature in Port Perry.
Christina Kobland: Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania
Christina's garden epitomizes NANPS vision of bringing native plants up front. She has created a gorgeous meadow at the forefront of her property, standing in stark contrast to neighbouring lawns. Nestled at the edge of larger forest, 3 of Christina's 4 acres are wooded. The remaining acre provides feeding grounds for local wildlife: containing two ponds, 12 bird houses, and a diverse meadow of native wildflowers, grasses, ferns and shrubs.
Christina helped to change the Township's Weed definition to "any non-native plant" and is fighting a new suggestion that meadow gardens be required to pay for a permit, suggesting instead that lawns be taxed. In addition to maximizing biodiversity in her own property, Christina owns and operates Native Return and has started a charity, east33.org dedicated to improving the environment in the Philadelphia area.
She hopes that soon "the paradigm in landscaping will shift to one more healthy and cost effective for wildlife and people."
Jim French: Stony Lake, Ontario
Deep in Ontario's cottage country, Jim has transformed a denuded lakeside property into a re-creation of the wild splendor that once existed. Working with remaining vegetation, and adding natives from other areas when necessary, Jim's wildflower preserve protects a wide variety of rare species and provides a beautiful example for neighbouring cottagers.
As a co-founder of the Canadian Wildflower Society (now NANPS), Jim has worked his magic well beyond the boundaries of this property. He has created a CD showcasing the Stony Lake Wildflower Preserve and generously donates proceeds from its sale to NANPS.
Native Kitikans
Kahontake Kitikan, First Nations House: University of Toronto - Hart House
Kitikan is Ojibway for garden. This kitikan was created by a 2002 partnership between the Gardener's collective and the Native Students Association of the University. The garden is centred around the medicine teachings of the Four Directions and creates a space where aboriginal students can gather, learn about and practise cultural ceremonies involving native flora.
Suburban Groundbreaker
Jim Hodgins: Toronto, Ontario
Honouring Toronto's First Native Plant Garden -- 34 years later
When Jim, NANPS other co-founder, first moved to this area, the local yards tended toward the usual urban deserts known as lawns. Courageously, he began adding native plants, quietly battling those who saw taller vegetation as a place to hide their trash or as a substitute for fire hydrants when walking their dogs. After 34 years, the garden has prospered and so has the neighbourhood. The area is now known for its many diverse front yard landscapes...including a number of native plant gardens. A few blocks away lies the winner of NANPS first garden award...the Bain Housing Co-operative.
In accepting his award, Jim honoured us with a slide show highlighting not only the development of his garden but the often strange diversity of designs that constitute what can only be termed "unnatural" gardens.
