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Davy: This Ottawa ‘library’ sows good ideas

The Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library wants to market the idea of ​​native plant gardening. Method is as follows.

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The season’s first snowfall may not conjure up flowers, but it should.

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Now’s the time to get your free seeds from winter sowing of native plants and upcoming events hosted by the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library.

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Native plants are adapted to the fall and spring freeze-thaw cycles and need to be exposed to the cold stratification that this cycle causes to germinate. Now is the perfect time to plant seeds for natural cold stratification outdoors.

You can sow directly into the ground, but the Seed Library recommends reusing clamshell containers, such as the clear plastic containers that grocery stores sell fruit in. These usually have drainage holes already and can hold and fill with a few inches of soil or potting mix. With snow after planting. This creates a kind of mini-greenhouse for germination in spring. It also prevents the seeds from scattering, becoming too dry, or being eaten during the winter.

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Even if you don’t intend to sow in winter, this is your best chance to get free local seeds for native plants. You can mimic the freeze-thaw cycle in your refrigerator for planting in spring, but if you want to get free seeds from the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library, now is the time. I am aiming for A seed catalog, tips for beginners and more information about sowing is available here.

At a seeding event, seeds are organized by preferred growing conditions. Volunteers can help you find things to grow in the space you have: sun, shade, dry, damp, or balcony containers.

Seed libraries function like regular libraries in that people are asked to “check out” seeds and “return” them to the library after the plants have flowered and set seed. increase. In this way, it redistributes native plant seeds throughout the region and promotes healthy ecosystem restoration. Over the past two years, the library has distributed over 20,000 of his seeds of over 100 native plants to hundreds of individuals and groups both within and outside the region.

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Founder Melanie Ouellet says: “We only accept ‘straight’ seeds for donation. We do not accept “cultivars” or “landraces”. Some cultivars have more petals and different colors than the original “straight” species, making it harder for insects and other pollinators to reach the nectar they need. Even those labeled as “native species” may provide poor quality food sources and may not provide suitable habitat.

Native plants are climate-adapted and easy to care for. Unlike lawn maintenance, no mowing or raking is required. Once established, native plants require virtually no watering or weeding, making gardening much easier than gardening with non-native plants. We also support wildlife by providing food and habitat for birds, butterflies, bees and other native pollinators. Introduced and modified species replace natural food sources. Growing native plants helps restore ecosystems and rebuild wildlife habitat corridors.

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How to “borrow” some seeds:

The Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library will be distributing free native plant seeds at Springhurst Park on November 26th from 1-4pm. at his Elmvale Acres chapter at the Ottawa Public Library on December 3rd from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm. On December 10th from 1-3pm at the Hunt Club Riverside Park Community Center in partnership with the Ottawa South Eco Action Network (OSEAN). It will take place on December 17th from 10am to 12pm at the Beaverbrook Community Center in Kanata (Level 1).

Barbara Jane Davy She holds a PhD in Social and Ecological Sustainability and is a secretary and communications strategist for the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library.

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Davy: This Ottawa ‘library’ sows good ideas

Source link Davy: This Ottawa ‘library’ sows good ideas

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