EducationEventsgardening

SOL garden opens at Douglas College

By July 8, 2016 One Comment

The SOL (Sustainable Outreach Learning) garden at Douglas College in Coquitlam is now officially open. The creation of  new gardens is always good news! I attended the June 20, 2016 official opening of the garden. Free refreshments also helped after a long day at work.

 

IMG_4924edit

 

Built one year ago, the garden was officially opened after speeches and grass ribbon cutting. It features research beds and native planting at the entrance and on the edges. How many native plants can you name? I spotted Gaultheria shallon, Rubus spectabilis and Polystichum munitum.

 

IMG_4948edit

This ribbon almost required power shears

 

IMG_4957edit

How many native plants can you name?

 

The key point is emphasis on beneficial insects. I love plants and openly confess to outrageous ignorance when it comes to insects. I know bees are fuzzy with friendly faces; wasps are smooth with mean faces. I have lots to learn. But I know how important pollinators are. They are responsible for pollinating something like 80% of the food we consume. We must therefore care for them by providing food sources and eliminating harmful chemicals.

One interesting research plot is full of nursery cultivars which lack pollen and nectar. The insects are tricked but not for long. They know what the good stuff tastes like and fly off to search for it.

 

IMG_4927edit

Yarrow

 

IMG_4929edit

Study the tags and improve your plant ID

 

IMG_4931

Verbena bonariensis

 

IMG_4926edit

Vegetables

 

IMG_4934edit

Note insect traps

 

IMG_4933edit

Feel free to visit and pick any ripe strawberries. Once local black bears catch on……

 

IMG_4943edit

Delicious dessert, no pollination required

 

The garden is located on the south side of the Douglas College campus in Coquitlam. Feel free to visit. Check for ripe strawberries and study the plants. The college has a gardening club you can join, you can volunteer and, if your pockets are deep, you can donate cash. Cash is required for tables and a storage shed.

I saved the best for last: there are plans for seminars and educational programs which is very exciting. For now, you can pick up handouts on insect and plant identification.

Join the discussion One Comment

  • Sterling says:

    Hi there!

    The Institute of Urban Ecology is hosting a forum on “creating pollinator friendly communities” at 11:00 AM- 2:00 PM Saturday April 8th at the Douglas College New Westminster Campus in room N2201. If you liked the Sol Garden event, you will love this one!

Leave a Reply