Pollinator Garden
A community demonstration garden at the Memorial Centre
inspiring pollinator patches across Kingston since 2011.
Garden History
The idea to create a demonstration pollinator garden in Kingston was born in late 2010, inspired by projects in Guelph and Ottawa. Members of the Kingston Horticultural Society asked: “Why not Kingston?” In 2011, the City approved our demonstration site at the Memorial Centre along the Nelson Street perimeter pathway.
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In September 2011, volunteers amended the soil with top-quality garden mix, weed barriers, and moisture-retaining mulch. Initial plantings took hold rapidly, and bees and butterflies were spotted visiting within hours! By 2014, the garden flourished beyond expectations with minimal maintenance required. In 2017, Kingston’s Pollinator Garden was officially recognized as a Pollinator Haven by the Ontario Horticultural Association one of the very first in the province!
Continuous learning shapes our garden. For example, the Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) grew into an 8+ foot giant that required staking. While pollinators loved it, its aggressive self-seeding proved unsuitable for average city lots, leading to its relocation. Today, our garden showcases hardy, water-conscious native perennials that provide continuous blooms throughout the growing season.
Location
Memorial Centre, 303 York St, Kingston
Key Learning & Recognition
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Partners & Thanks
City of Kingston, OHA Special Project Grant, Kingston Field Naturalists, Lemoine Point Native Plant Nursery and our dedicated volunteers.