With spring underway, Powell River’s gardens are coming to life. While many gardeners focus on food crops or ornamentals, the committee behind Lang Creek Native Plant Garden has a different goal altogether.
“We wanted to grow a garden that would showcase our native plant species,” said Michael Stewart, one of seven members on the garden’s steering committee.
Stewart, who said she has been interested in native plants for a long time, joined a club of native-plant enthusiasts in 2010 spearheaded by local gardener Gail Scholefield. The club was centred around the idea of creating a native-plant garden, said Stewart.
By 2011, the club had secured a location for its garden at the mouth of Lang Creek. According to Stewart, the garden was established on land managed by Powell River Salmon Society.
“They really supported the garden, with the location and financially,” she said. “Many businesses and individuals donated their time and money to make the garden possible.”
Stewart said the garden serves as a place for people to study native plants, whether for identification or for understanding the plants’ growth habits. Many of the plants have cultural uses as well, she said.
“Roses, cedar and red currants are all Tla’amin traditional plants,” said Stewart.
The garden attracts wildlife as well, including bears, which fertilize it by bringing salmon carcasses from the nearby creek. It is also home to many species of birds, butterflies and other animals, said Stewart.
Club volunteer Liz Kennedy, who is also part of the steering committee, said the garden holds value in its genetic stock.
“We can use the native plants here to propagate into other gardens,” she said.
According to Kennedy, plants are chosen to be the right ecotype, not just the right species. The club made use of local expertise and consulted ethnobotanist Wendy Cocksedge to find appropriate plants for the garden, she added.
“There are a number of benefits to gardening with native plants; they tend to be hardier once they become established,” said Kennedy. “They’re not particularly flashy, but they are beautiful; you have to really look.”
The garden provides an element of interpretation as well, said Stewart.
“There’s a lot of signage,” she said. “We want visitors to know about plants from this area.”
Stewart said the club coordinated with Tla’amin Nation elder Betty Wilson for traditional plant names and uses.
“We also found a lot of useful information about the plants in field guides,” said Stewart.
According to Kennedy, spring is a busy time for the volunteers.
“There’s always weeding and pruning to be done, and this time of year we’re also cleaning up the winter damage,” she said.
Kennedy added that part of the challenge of gardening with native plants is containing some of the ones that are more active. “Nootka rose spreads everywhere,” she said.
Some plants have not been as successful. Kennedy said the club wants to re-establish those ones.
Moving forward, the steering committee has a number of goals, said Stewart.
“We’d definitely like more signage, and we’re interested in developing study units and learning kits for teachers to use with their students,” she said.
According to club founder Scholefield, engaging youth with the garden is key to its future.
“It is our dream that today’s children will revisit Lang Creek with their own children and grandchildren,” she said, “to experience a thriving, healthy generation of wild salmon and native plants.”
For more information on Lang Creek Native Plant Garden, email [email protected].
