Happy Earth Day!!

Earth Day is April 22!

What will you do to celebrate?

How can your actions last longer than just one day?

Here are some ideas:

In Huntsville, there is the "Greening Huntsville" initiative. It includes:

• 2 Street Sweeps: April 21


• Urban Strretscape Tree Planting Program


• Free Compost at Madil Church Yard (April 21)


• Roadside Clean-up (April 30)


• Neighbourhood Clean-up


• Free Garage Sale (May 7)

Some Muskoka-wide events:

• Native Plant Sale: pre-order before May 9, pick-up in Huntsville, Bracebridge, or Bala on May 14.



• Biodiversity Day: A fun day for the family on May 22 at Brooklands Farm near Milford Bay



• Muskoka Envirocredits: emissions offset program plants trees in Muskoka



• 3rd Annual Amazing Race: Come out August 13th as a volunteer or participant for fun and to support the Muskoka Trails Council



• Participate in the Muskoka Stewardship Program to live more sustainably on your land.
  One of the best things you can do to celebrate Earth Day is to "Give it up for Earth Day. That means helping to create a healthier world by making some changes in your daily routine. Some examples are:


• Eating less (or no) meat in your diet. If you are really ready for change, you could try veganism.


• Reduce the amount of "things" you buy- especially when lots of plastic packaging is involved.


• Turn off the TV and get outside!


• Cut out toxic chemicals from your home (watch for an upcoming blog post about this)


• 
  
  Challenge your friends and family to follow in your Earth Day footsteps

Have you decided to "Give it Up for Earth Day"?

There are prizes, materials, answers to your questions, and a community of like-minded people at Earth Day Canada's "Give it Up for Earth Day" Challenge.

Muskoka's Native Plants

Spring is here - and so is the Muskoka Heritage Foundation Annual Native Tree & Shrub Sale!

Wild Columbine Aquilegia canadensis

This flowering plant is drought tolerant and likes sand or loam soil types with partial or full sun- and it's so pretty! It attracts birds, hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies which makes it useful in the oh-so-important pollination.

Staghorn sumach Rhus typhina

Spectacular red, edible, and showy seeds on this shrub. It likes clay, sand, and loam soils, partial or full sun, and normal to dry moisture.

Butterfly weed Asclespias tuberosa This red/orange flowering plant attracts pollinators and is also drought resistant.

Bear berry Artostaphylos uva-ursi This native ground cover is suitable for your shoreline restoration projects, in the riparian area. it is drought and salt resistant. It also attracts pollinators and adds a splash of colour to your garden!

I wrote last spring about why native plants are important for your gardening projects. Who can resist a garden that is colourful, disease and pest resistant, low maintenance, and provide habitat for wildlife? It just makes good sense!

WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING YOUR GARDEN THIS SPRING:

• Duplicate natural growing conditions


• Consider soil type, moisture, sunlight, wind


• Take clues from what is already growing

WANT TO KNOW MORE?:

• More tips on starting your own native plant garden


• Tips for choosing native species: wildflowers, trees, & shrubs


• Not sure if it's a native species? check the native plant database


• Problems with deer? Check out these deer resistant gardening techniques


• Need planting tips? Check out this information sheet

ORDER PLANTS:

• Orders must be placed by May 9th (email form or call in)


• Pick up your order in Huntsville, Bracebridge, or Bala on May 14, 2011


• Special workshops and information available at Bracebridge location

Happy Gardening!

Baysville Horticultural Society

Baysville Horticultural Society gets a sneak peek at the Species at Risk booklet!

I presented to the lovely folks at the Baysville Horticultural Society last week. I spoke with them about land trust properties near Baysville, native species in the area, the importance of shoreline re-naturalization, the Well Aware program, and of course, the stewardship program.

I also spoke with them about the upcoming publication of the MHF’s Stewards’ Guide series, which will include the topics of Species at Risk in Parry Sound-Muskoka, Forest Management Options, Shoreline, Wetlands, and Trail Building. I had just received the proof from the printer for the Species at Risk booklet so they got to have a peek at what's to come! The Species at Risk booklet will be available at the MHF office in March and on the website soon!

Tyler, MHF Communications Intern, came along to help me sell tea towels and promote MHF programs.

The folks at Baysville Horticultural Society were a very engaged, interested audience who asked great questions and were enthusiastic about stewardship. Thank you!

Tree Trivia & Stewardship Conference

Globally, forests are host to 80 percent of our biodiversity.

Ten percent of the world's forests can be found right here in Canada.

And remember, the United Nations has declared 2011 the International Year of Forests.

photo: Greg Francis

Registration opens today for the 2011 Muskoka Stewardship Conference!

View the full agenda and register here

There will be speakers about the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program, wildlife topics, native species gardening, water quality, and more!

It is an excellent change to learn more about stewardship in Muskoka and network with like-minded folks.

Hope to see you there!

Native Plants for your Property!

It's time again for the Muskoka Heritage Foundation's annual native tree and shrub sale!

{Encourage hummingbirds in your garden by planting perennials like Joe Pye weed}

Why choose native species?

• They are better adapted to the diverse weather and soil conditions of Muskoka
• They are more resistant to pests and diseases
• They provide excellent wildlife habitat
• They are better able to survive periods of drought
• They require little maintenance
• Most importantly: they help us reconnect with our natural heritage

The order form is now available at the MHF website. You must order ahead of the Saturday, May 15th pick-up date. Check out the website for pick-up times and locations. You can also find lots of information on the website about the growing conditions best suited to the native trees, shrubs, and plants we will be selling- like Joe Pye weed.

Check out the 'Stewardship Resources' page here on the blog to get more information about how to attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden and tips for native species gardening. Look under the 'native species' and 'habitat' sections.

New for the sale for 2010: At the Bracebridge location only, short presentations will be given throughout the morning on native plant gardening and restoration. There will also be additional plant species for sale.

See you there!