smudgeworks native plant design

Smudgeworks Native Plant Design

now in Alvinston, Ontario--the heart of Carolinian Canada!!

Phone: 519 898 2894

Gardening the Way Mother Nature Intended!

contact site map what is a native plant? Native plant resources FAQ Links Services

Click here to see what will be blooming in the Spring!!

04/28/2009 Is Spring here yet?

Are you amazed at the beautiful wildflowers growing in their native habitat in our Provincial Parks such as Rondeau, Pinery, Point Pelee and the Ojibway Tallgrass Prairie? The birds, butterflies and other wildlife thrive in these areas along with our senses as we stroll the boardwalks or make our way through the tallgrass. You can recreate these oases of beautiful wilderness' in your own backyard (or frontyard) with a little bit of research into your site conditons and the local natural areas. Drought tolerant, disease resistant, low maintenance prairie and meadow plants fit in very well into the 'traditional' perennial border. Their beauty, fragrance and ability to withstand our intense weather make native plants worth looking into.

What we offer you is a botanical inventory of your property. We will make recommendations, depending on your site, your soil conditions, your exposures, and of course your preferences.

If restoration of the remnant Tallgrass Prairie, Meadow, Wetland or Woodland of your property in Southwestern Ontario is your motive, or you would like to attract beautiful butterflies and birds to your garden, once you get 'hooked' on Native Plant gardening, you will not turn back! It will become a passion just like it has been for many gardeners. Native plants are also drought tolerant and maintenance free, as well as not requiring pesticides and fertilizers, which is important as we learn what these chemicals do to our health. Some native plants such as Echinacea, Yarrow, Solomon's Seal, Evening Primrose, to mention a few, have known medicinal qualities and because they have been wild collected, it is beneficial to cultivate them in our gardens--some can even be used as a cash crop.

Workshops and Seminars

I will be offering workshops and seminars on various topics in the coming new year:

some topics include:

Establishing a native plant garden: Tallgrass Prairie and Meadow
Woodland
Wetland and Ponds
Attracting Birds to your Garden
Attracting Butterflies and Beneficial insects to your garden.
Erosion control and other trouble spots
Garden Photography
Plant I.D.--a workshop on field guides.
Medicinal Native Plants and Herbs

Feel free to contact me if you have any ideas about workshops.

Location to be announced.