Get ready for another great season!

Blue skies are smiling as we prepare in earnest for the new season and anticipate, with barely contained patience, the seeding and germination of a new host of life.  Approaching the end of winter, the time for introspection and reflection transmutes into the season of fresh possibilities, breaking through and the eruption of life.  Embedded beneath the soil of each tray lies the promise of myriads of ecosystems.  Each seed in the greenhouse contains the hope for and magic of greener, more diverse earth.  Running one’s hands through the cool, moist, and fragile seedlings one senses the playful energy of life bursting forth following the urge to fulfill its potential. 

Seeds that are ready to germinate are available on our newly updated website.  You will find the website more user friendly with increased availability to a greater depth of knowledge.  Our award winning website now provides a very useful tool for finding the right plants for your space (e.g. sun, soil, moisture, colour, bloom time, height, attracting butterflies...)

The walking and interpretative trail continues to be a contemplative way to enjoy and experience the season.  Many interesting birds of prey have been sighted and heard.   In the wee hours of the morning there is a grey owl who calls out echoing through the leafless trees; a haunting sound.  In the bright hours of the day a pair of bald eagles soared overhead.  A wide variety of birds are wintering in the area.  Their bright colours and playful tunes animate the grey and low sky days of winter.

Viewing the front pond, and basking in the sunshine there is more accessible now, with the wetland viewing platform in place.  You can stand or sit here to feel like you are a part of the goings on of the many creatures who call this their home.  When the weather warms, experience up close, the mating calls of spring peepers, the quacks of wood frogs, and the trills and tremolos of a chorus frog.  We are able to assist to you in designing and creating your own wetland haven.  You can choose to enhance an existing wetland area in your space with our many wetland plants.

On Tuesdays at 5 pm we continue to offer yoga classes.  When the weather warms up we will offer sunset yoga outside.  Sunset yoga affords the opportunity to synchronise you body spirit and mind with the rhythms of the life world.  Keep checking our website for the dates and times of sunset yoga.  On Wednesday evenings at 7 pm we offer meditation.  Learn simple techniques to help alleviate stress, feel more alive and at peace with your life and the world.

The culminating event for March is Canada Blooms.  This is our second year at this nationally recognised show.  Many local horticulture groups offer bus trips to this show. We have many new additions to our booth this year. We will be selling hand made seed paper, some seed starter kits, seed packets and a number of other innovative products that you must be sure to explore at our booth.

Paul and Stephanie Morris and the dedicated staff at Acorus Restoration

Dos and Don'ts

Do add more diversity to your plantings. In any site there are a wide variety of moisture and light conditions. By choosing a limited palate of plants your site may not include the full spectrum of plants needed for all conditions. Ecosystems are more stable and able to adapt to changes in microhabitat conditions if they have more species. Use our habitat search to help expand your palate of native plants.

Don’t include non-native plants and cultivars in habitat restoration projects. May exotic plants are very aggressive in natural areas and can become a problem in the future. For a list of invasive plants in Ontario visit here.

Events 2007

We have started classes for yoga (Tuesdays 5pm) and meditation (Wednesdays 7pm) at the farm.

Canada Blooms Booth #137 Metro Toronto Convention Centre March 12-16

Nursery Open for Retail March 19 Earth Day

Doors Open Norfolk March 26-27

Please Note:

NEW - Educational Seed Starting Kits:

We provide a complete kit with 72 cell growing tray and dome, soil, seed packets of native wildflowers, growing instructions, a simple garden plan and an educational plan put together for grades K-8. The educational plans are tailored to the Ontario curriculum.

Kits are $39.95 each

We invite people to contribute articles relevant to conservation and restoration. We are getting a sizable list of people interested in native plants and healing the planet!

We are looking for photos of the many beautiful gardens our plants have gone into. We would like to add a showcase to the website. Testimonials would also be great to add. Please email us at info@ecologyart.com and indicate if you would like your name and city added also. Thank you!

You are free to distribute these articles provided that Acorus Restoration and our website are sited.

Connections with Mother Earth

Oh I can’t wait I’m itching to get out into my garden, dig in the dirt, plant some seeds and breath in the smells of spring.

The red-wing Blackbirds are back and before long we’ll hear the trumpeter swans as they fly by and sing to us like the angels of spring.

Snow will melt and the magic begins as the earth warms and wakes up. Anticipation grows as the plants begin to sprout and leaves begin to unfold ready for another season.

How often do most of us stop and take a moment in our busy lives to lift our faces to the sun and soak in the warmth and appreciate the wonders of life on this planet and realize that every breath is a gift?

How do the birds know when it is time to migrate? It’s instinct. They are still connected and as one with spirits of the earth. If only we were still completely connected. “Modern” living has disconnected many of us from the natural rhythms of the earth.

Now, is the time to make time every day to care for Mother Earth so she can care for us.

Even the small things we do are like a drop of water in large river.  Some of us may think, oh it’s not a big deal no one will know or hold me accountable for the things we know we shouldn’t do.

Collectively and individually we have the choice to make negative or positive impacts. For every action there is a reaction, even the small stuff, it all adds up so try to reflect on this often.

Here are some small ways to make a big difference;

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost. By the way composting, if done properly it doesn’t smell, it is important to layer dry and wet compostable material, so keep some of your fall leaves and grass clippings for composting.

Be water wise. Don’t leave water running while you brush your teeth. Make sure you fix any leaky toilets or taps you could be wasting 200 gallons of water every day. Use cold water to wash your clothes, this saves hydro and fuel used to heat the water, which also saves you money.
If you must drive avoid making unnecessary trips and carpool when possible. Make sure your tires are inflated properly and this will save fuel and reduce pollution. If you have access to public transit or are in walking or biking distance then use these alternatives as much as possible.

Use vinegar and baking soda to clean your home, perhaps add a little essential oil if you must have the “clean smell”. Avoid unnecessary heavy cleaners and detergents they cause pollution before and after their use.

Buy local food. It’s fresher, it takes less fuel and energy to get it to your table and supports the local economy. It is also about taking pride in your own back yard.

Learn to love dandelions and ignore grubs and moles on your lawn. Better yet naturalize your space and get rid of some lawn.

The alternative to learning to love dandelions, grubs and moles is to use chemicals and kill them and spoil your own water and likely your own health.

Buy a re-useable bottle for water at work and play, instead of buying small bottles of water which then must be recycled which uses more fuel and then more energy.

Choose items that are not over packaged whenever available, go to the farmers market and local butchers they generally do not package or use it minimally.

Insulate your homes well to reduce heating energy used, wear a sweater instead of cranking up the heat.

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs and be sure to turn off lights when you leave the room and unplug unnecessary appliances when not in use.

Dispose of chemicals, computers, paints, batteries, cell phones and computers responsibly. Do not put them out with your regular waste or down your drains. Look in your newspaper or contact your municipality for pick-up or drop-off depots for these items. When people do dispose of these items irresponsibly they may think it won’t be their problem but fact is it all comes back in the water we drink and the air we breathe.

Buy natural personal care products. Educate yourself natural and chemical ingredients, if you can barely pronounce I recommend you don’t buy it. Most commercial personal care products have a lot of chemicals including synthetic fragrances and preservatives such as formaldehyde. Many products like lotion, nail polish, hair styling products and deodorants contain phthalates. Phthalates are known endocrine disrupters, they mess with your hormones and have been linked to early puberty in girls, reproductive birth defects in babies when a mother is exposed while expecting. Not only are we harming ourselves when we use it, it is then washed down the drain and into the water we drink and comes right back to us.
 

GIFT CERTIFICATES!

Available in any denomination or Give one of our Wildflower Garden Packages! 

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