Marilyn Houser-Hamm
After what seemed like unending winter, the joy of melted snow, fresh rainfall, and the signs of
Spring are igniting garden fever and the urge to get planting. ACAN would like to encourage our community to “plant with a purpose” this year.
In 2022, in cooperation with the David Suzuki Foundation, ACAN began to establish corridors in our community and schools where native plants are grown to provide urgently-needed nutrition and habitat to endangered Monarch Butterflies and pollinators in general. Pollinators are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of the food we eat.
The community can begin to see and learn about native flowers and grasses this year in exciting ways. First, around the beautiful new timber frame pavilion at Altona’s Community Garden, wi expert, community-designed-landscaping will feature an area of flowering native plants. In their first full blooming season last year, visitors experienced the hum and buzzing of many pollinators already finding the plot site. The newly-landscaped area will become a source of beauty, pride, and nurture for the community to enjoy. But the site will also provide educational opportunities for the community to learn of native plants, food growing, and community-building through a shared identity as those who care for the earth and the well-being of one another.
Secondly, the Pembina Trail, the 7km. biking/walking path between Altona and Gretna, will begin the restoration of the trail to native grasses by Ducks Unlimited this spring. Come and enjoy 10-12 varieties of prairie native grasses and butterfly plants..
Thirdly, in 2022 ACAN was delighted to sponsor 14 “Butterfly Gardens” – plots of 72 native plant plugs from Prairie Originals in Selkirk, Manitoba, to Altona and area residents. The location of these plots is being placed on the ACAN web page and may be viewed at:
https://www.altonacan.com/new-page
This year, ACAN is inviting the community to expand individual plot locations to full “Butterflyway” corridors. An area of approximately ten plots of virtually any size/shape with 12 plants minimum constitute enough nutrition for its pollinators for the season. Go to the web page map, identify the plot location nearest you, and enjoy creating your own native plant or mix of native and other flowering plant combinations. The joy of busy and amazing pollinators will soon be yours.
New to native plants and how to begin to incorporate them? ACAN’s web site includes a series of engaging webinars on learning about and growing native plants with Kelly Leask of Prairie Originals. Visit: Making-a-Butterflyway Difference https://www.altonacan.com/new-page
Want to obtain plants or native plant seeds? ACAN will soon have seed to share from its site at the Community Garden, but until then, visit the Prairie Originals link on our Butterflyway page “Learn More About Native Plants on the Prairies.” Or you can visit the St Norbert Farmers Market beginning Saturdays in late May – early August, 8:00am-2:00pm to see and purchase plants directly from Kelly and the staff. Let us know of your Butterfly Garden and we will add it to our community map. Let’s make our community a Butterfyway Community this year.
