Northern Wildflowers

07/30/2026

We've been experimenting with having Scarlet Runner Beans and Sugar Snap Peas sharing a trellis in our demo garden this summer, and so far it's working pretty great! Lots of snap peas for snacking, and the beans are just starting to develop. But if we're being honest, we mostly grow the Runner Beans for their ornamental value, and to bring in the hummingbirds! Their beans are a bonus.

Have you played around and found any veggies that make good trellis friends? 🌿

07/29/2026

Even after 20 years of paddling this same area west of Sudbury, nature still has surprises waiting.

Our founder, Jenny, recently spotted swamp milkw**d growing there for the very first time. Despite spending decades exploring the region and keeping a close eye out for native plants, she'd never found this species in this area before.

It's a wonderful reminder that sometimes a wildflower isn't absent—it just isn't blooming when we're there. Timing can make all the difference.

Discovering swamp milkw**d in a place Jenny thought she already knew so well was a special moment and a beautiful reminder that the more time we spend observing the natural world, the more it continues to surprise us.

07/28/2026

Looking for a little foraging project? Keep an eye peeled for Staghorn Sumac.

This plant's seed pods have a unique citrusy flavour. If harvesting to use as a spice, most people suggest harvesting in August or September, shortly after the seed pods ripen because a lot of flavour is washed away with rain and time. To process as a spice, harvest ripe, deep-red fruit clusters in dry weather, avoiding any that are faded, brown, or rain-washed, then gently shake or brush off debris without rinsing so the flavorful coating remains intact. Spread the clusters in a warm, well-ventilated place or use a food dehydrator on a low setting until completely dry and brittle. Rub the dried berries from the stems, then grind them coarsely or finely as desired and sift out the seeds and woody bits. Store the finished sumac spice in an airtight container away from heat, light, and moisture to preserve its bright, tangy, lemon-like flavor for several months.

To make a delicous cold tea resembling a sumac "lemonade", steep 3-4 "berry" clusters for around 8 hours in water, but avoid hot or boiling water as this can bring out a bitter unpleasant flavour. Then strain through cheese cloth or very fine strainer to remove the "hairs" and seeds, and sweeten with honey. A common roadside plant, you likely won't have to look too hard or bushwhack to find it. The bright red seed pods come out of the top of branches and usually point upward towards the sky.

Avoid harvesting from roadsides where more dirt and chemical built-up can occur, and always make sure that collecting plants or foraging is permitted at a site before harvesting there.

07/26/2026

Lately, I've been noticing something that makes me a little sad on my hikes: escaped garden plants growing along the trails. 🌿

Ground covers like goutw**d and periwinkle (Vinca) may look harmless, but when they escape into natural areas, they spread aggressively, crowding out native wildflowers and reducing the biodiversity that local wildlife depends on. Both are considered invasive species in Ontario.

One of the ways this happens is through the improper disposal of garden waste. Dumping grass clippings, pulled w**ds, prunings, or compost in parks, forests, ravines, or other wild spaces might seem harmless, but many plants can regrow from even tiny root fragments or pieces of stem. Yard waste can also introduce w**d seeds, plant diseases, and invasive insects into healthy ecosystems.

Instead, compost suitable plant material at home, or dispose of invasive plants according to your local guidelines (which may mean placing them in the garbage rather than the compost).
Keeping invasive plants out of our natural spaces is something every gardener can help with. A little extra care when disposing of garden waste goes a long way towards protecting the forests, meadows, and trails we all enjoy. 💚

07/25/2026

One of our favourite things to grow? Greens! 🌿 They're easy, productive, and a great way to replace several $9 bundles of lettuce at the grocery store. If you're gardening to save money, greens and herbs are an excellent place to start replacing your grocery list.

We've been harvesting basket after basket of lettuce, kale, and other leafy greens all summer, and now it's already time to sow another round of lettuce for a fresh fall harvest.

A few of our favourites are Red Russian kale, and Magenta Orach (also known as mountain spinach). They're beautiful, packed with flavour and keep producing when you harvest them regularly. And you can buy seeds to plant your own fall greens here: https://northernwildflowers.ca/collections/fruit-and-vegetable-seeds

If you've been thinking about growing your own food, leafy greens are one of the easiest and most rewarding crops to start with. 🌱

07/24/2026

Have you noticed that Monarch butterflies seem to use different milkw**d species in different ways? 🦋🌿

One of the joys of growing multiple kinds of milkw**d is getting a front-row seat to these little patterns. I'd love to hear what you've been seeing in your own garden!

Here's what I've noticed so far:
- Butterfly Milkw**d: Monarch moms often lay their eggs right on the flower clusters. The tiny caterpillars usually munch on the unopened flowers first, only turning to the leaves once they're a bit bigger (maybe the leaves are a little tougher?).
- Common Milkw**d: Eggs are most often tucked underneath the lower leaves, close to the ground. The caterpillars seem much less picky here, happily feeding on leaves throughout the plant as well as the flower buds.
- Swamp Milkw**d: Eggs tend to be laid on the undersides of the upper leaves. After hatching, the young caterpillars often make their way into the centre of the plant, where they're sheltered and spend their first week feeding on the inner leaves.

Every garden is different, and I'm curious whether these are common patterns or just what I'm seeing here. If you have monarchs visiting your milkw**d, have you noticed where they lay their eggs or where the caterpillars like to feed? Share your observations below, we can all learn from each other! 🐛

07/22/2026

Grow more food in less space! 🌿🍅 Patio container gardens can be incredibly productive when you think vertically. Use trellises, cages, and vertical supports for tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and peas to make the most of every square foot while improving airflow and making harvesting easier.

🌱 Mid-season reminder: Container plants use up nutrients much faster than those in the ground. Refresh them with compost, worm castings, compost teas, or a balanced fertilizer according to the label directions to keep your veggies healthy, productive, and thriving through the rest of the growing season.

Small space, big harvests! What are you growing in containers this year? 🥒🫑

07/21/2026

While butterflies get much of the attention in native gardening, Canada’s moth diversity is truly incredible, with over 11,000 species found across the country.

The best way to support moths is not by planting nectar flowers. It is by planting host plants for their caterpillars. Many moths can only develop on certain native plants. Females carefully choose where to lay their eggs because the caterpillars need the right host to survive. Some adult moths, including Luna, Cecropia, and Polyphemus moths, do not even have functional mouthparts and never feed, making host plants much more important than nectar sources.

Some excellent native host plants include:
🌿 Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) hosts grass moths like the Common Grass-veneer Moth (Chrysoteuchia topiaria).
🌸 Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) is a host plant for the beautiful Hermit Sphinx Moth (Lintneria eremitus).
🌼 Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) hosts the striking White-lined Sphinx (Hyles lineata) and the Primrose Moth (Schinia florida).
🌳 Willows (Salix spp.) support over 200 species of moths, including Io Moth, Viceroy Sallow, and many prominent and tussock moths.
🍒 Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) hosts spectacular silk moths including Cecropia, Polyphemus, and Promethea moths.
🌿 Serviceberry (Amelanchier spp.) is used by Blinded Sphinx, Small-eyed Sphinx, and many inchworms and leafrollers.

Many adult moths also visit pale, fragrant flowers after dark for nectar. Great native choices include Foxglove Beardtongue, White Snakeroot, Virginia Mountain Mint, Culver's Root, and Evening Primrose.

Even if you never see the caterpillars, they are quietly feeding the next generation of moths and, in turn, feeding songbirds, bats, and countless other wildlife.

Plant for caterpillars first, and the moths will follow. 🌙🦋

07/20/2026