Protecting your Cottage Legacy: Planting Smarter Not Harder with Native Species

Hi there! Vern Bastable here, Director of the Ecology Park Nursery. We are your trusted source for a broad selection of native tree, shrub, and wildflower species specifically selected to thrive in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. 

What many people don’t realize is that investing in native species can return benefits for decades, creating that legacy of a vibrant, healthy, and care-free sanctuary.  

Maybe it’s just me, but I enjoy gardens and landscapes that give back in more ways than one. 

Planting smarter not harder means choosing native species appropriate to your landscape. These species have developed complex evolutionary relationships with other native species. Even better, planting a diverse range of native species can create a vibrant legacy in your corner of wilderness that anticipates future climate changes.

Well-chosen native species can augment your cottage for decades to come in several ways: 

• restore and protect local habitats, 

• create vibrant landscaping that is often easier to care for,

• add property value, 

• protect your cottage from flooding,

• reduce cost of utilities like heating, cooling, and water usage, and last but not least,

• fight climate change! 

Well-chosen native species can also help out during those extreme droughts and floods we’re seeing more regularly. The robust root systems of some native species help them survive long periods without rain. Those same root systems also soak up the rain during heavy rainfall events, preventing runoff and erosion that can damage your property and impact water quality.

In case you didn’t know, Otonabee Conservation is your trusted source for information about flooding, drought, and watershed health. They protect sources of municipal drinking water, shorelines, and wetlands, and they produce a report card on Watershed Health every 5 years. Visit otonabeeconservation.com and sign up for their email updates on what you can do during the changing water conditions this summer and fall. 

Whether you’re protecting your shoreline view or investing in your forested sanctuary, the staff at the Ecology Park Nursery are here to help. 

Located at 1899 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough, the Ecology Park Nursery’s opening day and Annual Plant Sale is May 21, from 10am-4pm. Regular hours are Thursdays 10am-6pm, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 10am-4pm until closing on October 7. More details and plant catalogue available at greenup.on.ca/nursery 

All proceeds from sales at the Ecology Park Nursery support GreenUP’s non-profit programming in communities throughout Peterborough and the Kawarthas.