Welcome Welcome to our first newsletter. We hope that you will find this newsletter informative about the happenings at our farm and beyond. We will have focus articles on some of our favourite plants and a listing of our upcoming events. A "do’s and don’ts" section will inform on some of the common challenges we face.
This nursery was established 11 years ago as a focal point for action, to give something back, and to heal the planet.
With this newsletter we hope to show you the beauty and functionality of the plants that grow naturally in our area. They are our natural heritage. These plants have been here since the last glaciation formed the Great Lakes; the wildlife of the area needs them to survive. Many creatures that are struggling for survival depend on these plants for their existence and each of us can make a simple and profound contribution by planting them. Even in the city, a postage stamp of habitat helps migrating butterflies and songbirds find respite and get food along the way!
I hope through the website, farm trails, gardens and workshops to convince you to shift your perspective towards the simple beauty of our indigenous plants.
My goals with each of the habitats created on this 95-acre farm are to foster the health of a broad range of ecosystems and to heal the planet. What flourished are magical areas of great beauty and increasing biodiversity, which brings more species of birds, butterflies, and frogs each year. I take a bottom up approach to planet healing – heal the earth and wildlife will come – sometimes even as you are planting the plants.
As you tour the trails on our farm you will see how each of my children have left their fragile mark – Keegan’s Prairie, Zoe’s Forest, River’s Pit and Mound. Come and explore the many large-scale restoration projects that have been established over the last 11 years. Trails run through our many prairie, woodland, wet meadow, marsh, and stream ecological restoration sites. The tours can be self-guided or come to one of our scheduled tour dates. We are also offering a variety of workshops on habitat creation and gardening.
To make our nursery a valued resource for “someone like you [who] cares a whole awful lot”† we have established a half-acre display garden that features over 100 species suitable for the home, estate or large-scale habitat restoration. This living herbarium gives people a chance to see these amazing plants in their full glory.
Come visit us and experience the beauty and magic that emanates from each of these unique Ontario habitats. Recharge your spirit and drink in the gifts of Mother Earth. I hope that you will grow to love these plants as I have.
Paul Morris and the dedicated staff at Acorus Restoration
†The Lorax by Dr.Suess
Do’s and Don’ts DO know the hydrology of your site. I don’t think I have planted a single site where the hydrology was as it was laid out on the blueprint. When the hydrology is different the plants need to be moved to adjust for the differences in water depth.
DON’T use a live stake when a dogwood or willow cutting will do. Live stakes are for when you use a dead blow hammer to pound through geotextile or hold down a fascine. Planting a cutting is cheaper, faster and has better results. Many a time I have been on a site and seen stakes pounded in a few inches when then need to be buried 2/3 into the soil for good take. Also you are less wasteful of the plant material. For a stake only the strong bottom section of a shrub is used and the rest is wasted.
Catherine's Corner Monarda Fistulosa - Wild Bergamot – Bee Balm
Wild Bergamot is one of my favourite Native herbs with its delicate pinkish-purple flowers. It is also adored by bees, butterflies and hummingbirds and is a great choice for a back border planting in a Butterfly, Hummingbird or Prairie garden.
Wild Bergamot scent has a citrus top note and stronger base note which reminds me of thyme or oregano. It contains high levels of thymol making it stimulating, anti- inflammatory, diuretic, anti-parasitic and antiseptic.
Bee Balm is well known as a tea substitute along with “Oswego” tea that was very popular after the Boston Tea Party that made black tea virtually unattainable. It has been used historically as a tea for everything from relieving colds symptoms to digestive complaints and the leaves have been used to flavour meats and stews. I recently came across a recipe in a Home and Garden magazine featuring Wild Bergamot as an ingredient for a citrus based sauce served with chicken which sounded excellent. They also suggested the sauce could be served with pork and wild game. Wild Bergamot flowers are also edible and can be added to salads to add interest and a punch of flavour.
There is common confusion or myth that I must clarify - Wild Bergamot is not the same as "Bergamot” essential oil used to flavour Earl Grey tea. Bergamot essential oil is actually expressed from the peel of a citrus fruit native to Italy. Wild bergamot was named after Bergamot because it has a slight orange or citrus top note.
Wild Bergamot leaves would be a suitable addition to natural body care recipes. The fresh or dried leaves can be used to create an infusion and then used to create a healing hand salve. I have created my own hand salves, which are great for before and after gardening (especially weeding). Here is the basic recipe:
Basic Soft Ointment/Salve (Cream without Water)
Six parts oil to one part beeswax
- In a double boiler or gently heat: 1/3 cup of Wild Bergamot infused oil/or plain olive oil and 1 tbsp of pure unbleached beeswax, stir well with a fork or mini whisk
- When beeswax is melted remove from heat and let cool for a few minutes stirring often
- Then stir in the contents of 1 capsule of vitamin e (natural preservative) Pour or spoon into a sterile jar. When it has cooled cover well
- Firmer ointment reduce olive oil to ¼ cup.
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