Native Plants

Think of them as wildflowers....

These native plants are adapted genetically to our climate and our landscape.

As a result, they are able to withstand the best and the worst that southern Alberta weather can throw at it.

This means that if you use native plants, not only will your yard be acclimatized, but you will also reduce your water consumption.

One of the most positive gardening trends over the last few years--along with the growing commitment of gardeners to organic practices--has been the increased interest in native plant gardening.

People across Canada are looking to the natural landscapes of woodlands, meadows, prairies and wetlands for inspiration in their gardens, recreating back and front yard habitats that are based on models found in nature. 

The environmental reasons for gardening with native plants are positive and compelling. Native plant gardens: 

•  increase biodiversity;
• provide habitat for a wide variety of creatures such as birds and butterflies;
• provide a home for many native plants that are becoming increasingly rare in the wild;
• conserve water;
• and eliminate the need for chemical inputs such as pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers.

Just as important to gardeners are the practical and aesthetic benefits of native plant gardening: less work and lots of beauty! You'll quickly discover that native plant gardens almost look after themselves--after all, that's what happens in nature, and native plant gardens are based on natural principles. 

A garden can be lush, healthy, green and still require little water. The secret to a water efficient garden is to choose the right plants and make use of location, mulch and shade. The following drought resistant plants are readily available at plant nurseries and gardens centres within and around High River :

Some recommended plants for your Water Efficient Garden

Consider native plants...

Native plants are adapted to local climate, soil conditions and disease. Because they have evolved to survive on rainfall alone, they are good choices for low maintenance, low maintenace, low water consumption gardens.

There are over 1,600 native plant species in Alberta - an incredible assortment to brighten your world around you.

There's an added bonus - all native birds and wildlife will be attracted to your native plants. It'll become a haven for songbirds and for butterflies - after all, not only are the plants adapted to the climate and landscape, but so are the living creatures around us. Your garden could become a haven....

As more and more habitat is lost in the wild, every little bit that gardeners do to create habitat becomes increasingly important to our wild fauna. It's not just the wildlife around us on a daily basis - it's also needed by those who use this area as a migratory pattern.

More options and information can be found at the Alberta Native Plant Council website:  http://www.anpc.ab.ca/content/index.php

Environmentally-friendly Gardening Tips

• Mulch all grass clippings, leaves and yard waste back into the law to reduce the amount of organics entering the landfill.
• Establish back yard composting. This reduces the amounts of organics in the landfill, and provides and environmentally-friendly fertilizer.
• Iinstall rain barrels so that you can use the rainwater when you need it, rather than when it falls!
• Sweeping soil and vegetation away from pavement and drains reduces silt and increases water quality.
• Use organic fertilizer and use it sparingly, to keep phosphorous from entering the water systems. 

Invasive plants and weeds

• Any introduced plant - a plant from your garden - can become a nuisance or a noxious weed.
• Invasive weeds are a growing threat in southern Alberta.
• Most of these originated as herbs brought by settlers to their new world, who brought with them herbal medicines and spices, not realizing what an impact they could have on the countryside.
• These escapees from gardens easily overwhelm native plants, and this not only means your garden is out of control, but it can actually take over miles and miles of land, can kill wildlife and livestock, and destroy the landscape.
• Yet other invasive alien species (IAS) have been transported between continents, and even within ecosystems in Canada, by increased modes of transportation.
• The photo of the purple loosestrife is not of the High River area, but it shows how this plant, which is still sold in many garden centres, has spread throughout the land, overwhelming all plant life that was there before.
• Oxeye daisy has spread and overwhelmed many of the northwestern United States, wiped through B.C., and has come into Alberta through the mountain passes, spreading northward. No wildlife or livestock will eat oxeye daisy, so it grows unchecked.
• Here's a hint: here are no native white daisies in Alberta. The best way to control them is to pull them out.
• For more information on invasive plants in Alberta, see www.invasiveplants.ab.ca or check with your municipal weed inspector office.
• IAS are not restricted to plant life. The list also includes animals, insects and viruses - any life form that is introduced into a landscape and that alters the landscape. Sometimes it is because they have no natural enemies to restrict their growth, or they dominate the native life forms around them.
• The list includes the West Nile Virus, which has come into North America and is transported by mosquitoes, domestic (feral) cats, rats, Chronic Wasting Disease, and many more. The list is growing every year, and millions of dollars is spent each year on trying to control or eradicate these IAS.
• For a downloadable report from Environment Canada, An Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Canada