Published on June 12, 2024 by Coralie Pinhal, Bilingual Coordinator, Marketing and Communications
The term ‘invasive species’ evokes images straight out of a horror movie. And, just like a movie villain, they can truly pose a frightening threat.
“Invasives that run wild create monocultures of plants that often have few, if any, relationships with other ecological niches,” says Olivia Dziwak, Evergreen’s Senior Specialist of Urban Ecology. “So, while a field of Dog Strangling Vine looks green to us, to a monarch butterfly, it might as well be a desert; nothing to eat, nowhere to lay eggs. The effects on biodiversity are immense and potentially catastrophic.”
That’s why Evergreen is committed to stewarding native plants, which can help push against the spread of invasive species and even play a role in tackling the climate crisis.
Simply put, a native plant is one that has evolved in a specific region. They’re incredibly valuable to local ecosystems, serving as natural habitats and sources of nutrition for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.
These plants have adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, making them remarkably resilient and well-adapted to their environment. As a result, they can require less care and watering compared to non-native species. Native plants can even improve water quality — deep root systems help prevent soil erosion and filter pollutants from stormwater runoff, contributing to cleaner waterways.
“Since 1991, there has been a conservation effort to bring back native plants to what is now called Evergreen Brick Works,” says April Nicolle, Specialist, Land Based Community Programs at Evergreen. “That has made a huge shift in not only how the space is being used by humans, but all our relations. The biodiversity of species has increased by leaps and bounds, and the quality of the water has changed significantly.”
Beyond their climate-ready benefits, native plants also help us practice placekeeping. The Civic-Indigenous Placekeeping and Partnerships Toolkit calls placekeeping a reframing of the term placemaking from an Indigenous lens and “that place (and the land that provides a foundation for place) inherently exists and has agency. As people, we can: hold place; be caretakers or stewards of place; respond to place; and form relationships to place.”
In her book, “Tending the Earth,” Canadian author and community activist Lorraine Johnson emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living things through native plant gardening, saying, “we’re creating these places of opportunity for everyone to experience a connection with nature and the opportunity for everyone to feel that sense of belonging with all life.”
Caring for native plants at Evergreen Brick Works is an action of placekeeping; honouring the natural relationships in a place rather than bringing in new things. Visitors are encouraged to support this stewardship through attention and reflection. April suggests that one of the best ways to begin is by asking yourself whether you are being a positive or negative presence in any given space.
With that starting place in mind, let’s take a walk around the gardens at the Brick Works to discover some of the native plants.
If you were to arrive by public transit or the free shuttle bus, the Healing Gardens would be your front door. This garden is comprised of three mounds representing fire, water and air and was revitalized with an Indigenous, youth-lead design session.
Before going in, take a moment to stop and observe the beautiful willow. This shrub is one of the species that thrives at the Brick Works because of our location in Toronto’s ravine system. Willows come in both beautiful tree and shrub forms, and also acts as a natural water filter by absorbing pollutants and excess nutrients through its roots. This helps clean and recycle the water, improving the overall health of the water in the area.
Speaking of water, turn around and look at the native plants on the other side of the road. You can find a lot of the same species growing in the Healing Gardens, like willow, dogwood and jewelweed. This is because these two communities of native plants are connected.
Now notice the compass plant, a species that wasn’t introduced here, but came down the ravine system all on its own. Our site, as you know, is nestled in the heart of the ravine system, and water carries plants down to us — that includes both native plants and almost all the invasive species you can name.
Next, head through the south entry into Koerner Gardens.
Whether you know this spot for our skating rink or skateboard park, Koerner Gardens is one of our most popular public spaces on site.
There’s no better place to observe Evergreen’s iconic tree. When you see the white pine standing tall, can you picture our logo? You might not know this, but Evergreen began as an environmental nonprofit planting trees along the banks of the Don River; and white pine was one of the main species that volunteers and staff were able to plant.
Koerner Gardens is a good example of the space guiding the landscaping. That includes native plants that thrive in both shade and acidic soil, such as bearberry and wintergreen; blooming species in the sunnier areas, like wild geranium and Canada anemone; and ferns in the shadier areas.
Koerner Gardens is a showcase for how we can connect people to each other and to nature through climate resilient gardens for the enjoyment of all.
The Children’s Garden is another way that Evergreen is building a resilient future. With the average North American child spending fewer than 30 minutes playing outside each day, we’re committed to giving kids their own place at the Brick Words where they can benefit from outdoor play and learning.
Our Children’s Garden offers opportunities for kids to experience risky play, the benefits of outdoor learning and stewardship-based opportunities, like this included in our Nature School program. The space also includes an amphitheatre, fire pit and edible native plant species like wild strawberry and spotted beebalm.
And tucked inside the Children’s Garden you’ll find the Guild Garden, which is built around a large cherry tree surrounded by many species of native plants, chosen to support insects, deter pests and protect the soil. The Guild Garden continues to encourage children to learn about nature through play, inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards.
Now, if you take a few steps south you will arrive at the Tiffany Commons, home to more garden mounds full of thriving native plants and our Toddlers’ Garden, an intimate area for our little ones to explore and connect with nature.
The garden mounds in Tiffany Commons demonstrate the tenacity of native plant species in challenging conditions. Even here, in the centre of an old brick factory with a hot concrete pad, native plants can thrive.
As you walk around these ten mounds, you will see locally-adapted species such as willow, aspen and other wildflowers that have adapted by growing deep root systems. While you’re here, take a moment to stop and notice the wall across from the parking lot to observe the Watershed Wall, a depiction of Toronto’s ravines by artist Ferruccio Sardella.
Last stop (but not the least) is the Birds, Bees and Butterflies Garden. Did you know that not all bees you see are native to Canada? Even honeybees were brought to North America. And guess what? Native plants are typically the best suited to support local pollinators. In this garden, you’ll find a variety of native plants that are rich in pollen and nectar, including Flat Topped White Aster, Blue Vervain and Golden Alexander. These gardens require a lot of work to make sure the non-native species don’t push out the native species and are a great demonstration of Evergreen’s stewardship work.
“I dream of clouds of pollinators buzzing above the flowers and nesting in all the stalks and the dried twigs,” says Dziwak. “The kind of impact we’re hoping for is to really invite back the wildlife that belongs here.”
We are continuously working on honouring the land by doing both placemaking and placekeeping. With the support of Foresters Financial, we are revitalizing the east side of the site to create an Urban Food Forest. Food forests are designed to mimic natural ecosystems, incorporating a wide variety of native plant species at different heights and layers.
“The Urban Food Forest will support the growth of beneficial insects, birds, and other wildlife, contributing to overall ecosystem health,” adds Dziwak. “Establishing a healthy ecosystem, particularly in urban settings, requires patience as nature takes its course.”
The Urban Food Forest will be planted with native plants to support the relationships between native flora and native fauna and to avoid the risk of spreading or introducing invasive species. Stay tuned for more information!
Be a native plant steward in your community
We might be tempted to think of placekeeping as the work of specialists, which requires a lot of knowledge and skills; but it’s really something we can all do.
Have you ever noticed all the stockpots, metal containers and milkcrates at the Brick Works? They remind us that native plant gardens can be planted anywhere, even without a yard. If you want to join the movement, start with a planter and visit the Evergreen Garden Market to explore a variety of native plants.
If you don’t have the opportunity at home, Dziwak suggests getting involved with your local stewardship group. Join Evergreen’s Garden Circle group, where volunteers have the chance to explore all the activities that go into caring for a complex and ecologically sensitive site. Learn about compost, get your hands dirty with invasive plant removal and connect with nature!
Thanks to the generous support of Less Mess, our garden spaces remain habitable and welcoming to plants and wildlife, with essential contributions of soil, dirt and compost.
