Between 2016 and 2019, we worked hard to transform our yard outside Orillia, Ontario to better meet the needs of local wildlife. That project is depicted here:  https://blackdeer.ca/gardening

In 2023, we moved from Ontario to Nova Scotia, and started the process all over again. Although our new yard had no gardens, it did have some established shrubs and native trees. Our Cape Breton Island property is also bordered by an area of brush on two sides. 

Although the brush provides beautiful greenery and privacy, it does contain multiple invasive species, including Multi-flora Rose, Dame's Rocket, and Goutweed. The brush area is outside my property, and not mine to alter, so the challenge is to keep invasive species from encroaching into my yard and damaging my new little trees and gardens. Goutweed had already infiltrated parts of the back and side lawns.

In 2024, we removed the rotting split rail fence that bordered the back and sides of the property, dug two new native perennial gardens, planted a little White Spruce and several little Balsam Fir trees, moved three existing empty garden frames to more suitable locations, constructed a raised bed for vegetables, and dug a trench across the back of the yard, to slow the progress of goutweed migrating from an established patch behind our property into the backyard. We also overseeded the lawn with grass and White Clover, in the hopes that it might compete with the existing Goutweed that was mixed into the lawn.

In 2025, we added a native wildflower border beside the driveway and another raised vegetable garden. The White Clover we added last year was holding its own against the Goutweed, so we overseeded the lawn with White Clover again.

After completion of this work, we applied for and received "Wildlife Friendly Habitat Certification," through the Canadian Wildlife Federation, "Butterfly Garden Certification," through the North American Butterfly Association and  "Bee Friendly Garden Certification," through the Pollinator Partnership. 

These environmental certifications are important because they provide us with standards, direction and guidance, and help conservation organizations track involvement by private individuals in providing resources for native wildlife.

The Pollinator Partnership realized that I had already certified a property in another part of Canada. They asked me if I would write a short article for their monthly newsletter, comparing the experience of establishing bee-friendly yards in two very different environments:  A Tale of Two Yards: Gardening for Bees in Central Ontario and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

🌿Continue scrolling to see our entire garden creation process... or click one of these links to skip to a particular section of the page:.

• STARTING FROM SCRATCH

• INITIAL WORK

• 2024 PLANTINGS 

• 2025 UPDATE

• PLANT INVENTORY

• WILDLIFE- AND POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY FEATURES

• WILDLIFE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS

STARTING FROM SCRATCH

🌿2024: Before breaking ground, we used an online garden planning tool to plot out a basic site plan:

INITIAL WORK

 🌿Once the ground had thawed after winter, our next steps included excavating the new gardens and the Goutweed barrier trench, assembling a raised garden frame, constructing a downspout for a rain barrel, filling the new gardens with soil, and selecting plants!

 2024 PLANTINGS

 🌿After months of preparation, it was finally time to start planting!

2025 UPDATE

🌿We only lost three native perennials over the first winter and all of the baby trees are thriving!  😃

PLANT INVENTORY

🌿Link to living document inventorying the flora in our yard:  PLANT INVENTORY

WILDLIFE- AND POLLINATOR-FRIENDLY FEATURES

🌿Our wildife food sources include flowering native and non-native perennials that provide nectar, pollen and seeds:

 🌿Our wildlife food sources also include berries, spruce, pine and Tamarack (Larch) cones, and vegetables (which we're willing to share with local wildlife!):

🌿We supplement with seeds, peanuts and nectar, when appropriate:

🌿We provide water to local wildlife via: 

• a bird bath

• a ground-level water bowl

• a water fountain

• a butterfly mudding pond

🌿There are several sources of natural shelter available in our yard, including:

• • • • trees and shrubs

      • flower gardens, containers and baskets

      • host plants for caterpillars

      • brush and stone piles along the edge of the property

      • areas to dig underground dens

🌿We provide additional types of shelter, including:

• two bee boxes

• a bat house

• three flower-pot shelters

• three different types of bird nesting boxes

🌿We do not use chemical insecticides or herbicides, or water our lawn. Our lawn is a diverse mix of drought-resistant grasses, White Clover and various "weeds." When there are invasive plants that need to be controlled, we cut, weed whack or dig them up.

🌿Our mulching mower is set relatively high. We leave grass clippings on the lawn. Our grass trimmer and mower are electric, and we heat and power our house with "green electricity," through Bullfrog Power. 

🌿Most of our gardens contain drought-resistant perennials. When we do need to water the flowers, berries or vegetables, we prioritize using water from the rain barrel: 

🌿We compost our kitchen and yard waste, and use natural soil amendments.

WILDLIFE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS

🌿Since we moved here in 2023, we have seen the following fauna in our yard:

• • • • mammals, such as rabbits, squirrels, deer and foxes

      • crows, jays, songbirds, hummingbirds and other small bird species

      • insects, such as bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, grasshoppers, ants and spiders

🌿In 2025, we were excited to welcome a pair of nesting Tree Swallows to our yard! In this short video clip, one of the parents is feeding a two week old chick:

🌿These are the bee species that frequent our yard:

Enhancing our landscaping, to better suit the needs of local wildlife, is a fun and challenging project from which we are also reaping benefits. The new gardens surprised us by producing an amazing array of colourful flowers in their first year. It is great to see more birds and pollinators visiting our yard. Sitting near the fountain or bird bath with a book is a relaxing way to spend an afternoon. We are greatly enjoying food from our fruit and vegetable gardens, and our new trees will provide both shade and privacy in the years to come. 

Text, photographs and layout © Margaret A. Black, 2024, 2025