The 1.5 square metre pollinator garden at Canadian Martyrs began in 2017 with a Canadian Wildlife Federation “4 pack”: Butterfly Milkweed, Swamp Milkweed, Gayfeather, and Coreopis. These plants were quickly joined by a few Prairie Smoke and Golden Alexander from the Fletcher Wildlife Garden plant sale.
In a subsequent season Faith and the Common Good donated Sneezeweed, Hairy Beardtongue, Grey-headed Coneflower, and Wild Bergamot and connected the parish with Wild Pollinator Partners. Since that time, parish gardeners have added Beebalm, Pearly Everlasting, Great Blue Lobelia, Black-eyed Susan, Eastern Columbine, and native asters to this site. Other beds already had Obedient Plant, Jack-in-the-Pulpit, and Bloodroot. More native perennials and several native shrubs have joined the ornamental beds. Joe-Pye Weed, Cardinal Flower, and Swamp Milkweed now thrive in a raingarden.
Since 2023, parishioners have benefited from a seed giveaway encouraging them to try growing native plants at home.
