Pollinator-friendly plants, especially native species, provide food in the form of pollen and nectar, essential for the survival of bees and other insects as well as birds and other animals. Toronto gardeners are encouraged to plant native flowering plants wherever they can to help bring our urban ecosystem back into balance.
The CDNA helps residents and buildings find the education, funding, and volunteer base needed to establish and maintain new pollinator beds, and to convert existing plantings. We also work with developers to encourage establishing native pollinator-friendly landscaping from the outset.
Why It’s Important
The insects, birds, and other animals that are native to the Toronto area evolved over centuries to thrive through relationships with native species of plants. Non-native plants (grass, for example, and exotic tree, shrubs and flowers developed for urban gardens) are usually difficult to maintain — require a lot of water and chemical fertilizers — and do not provide as much (if any) nourishment and protection for the insects and animals.
The Story
Maintaining non-native plantings and grass lawns involves heavy carbon costs due to the use of lawn mowers, irrigation systems, and fertilizers, all of which increases our carbon footprint. Additionally, non-native gardens and lawns are water-intensive.
Traditional gardens and lawns lack biodiversity compared to native plant ecosystems, harming pollinators like bees and other wildlife.
Luckily, we can do something about this! By transitioning to plantings with pollinator friendly we can contribute to bringing the ecosystem back into balance. Native plants need less water, fertilizers, and maintenance compared to non-native gardens and grass lawns.
The City of Toronto recommends the planting of native species and in 2018 unanimously adopted a Pollinator Protection Strategy. One of the action steps in this strategy is to encourage people to plant native pollinator gardens, and through Pollinate TO offers grants of up to $5,000 to community groups who wish to establish a pollinator garden. Several such gardens have been created by residents of Canary Park (120 Bayview Avenue) and River City 3 (170 Bayview Avenue).
What You Can Do
- If you'd like to start a Pollinator Garden or help with planning one, sign up here.
- Watch our newsletter and social media for digging, planting, or weeding blitzes.
- Consider cultivating pollinator-friendly plants on your balcony.
- Talk to your building management about converting some of your lawns or shrubbery to native pollinator gardens.
- Contact Pollinate TO to find out about educational materials and opportunities.
