Native plant gardening is on the rise but still many gardeners feel like a lone wolf in their neighbourhood. And if this is not the case for you, it still might be appealing to find others to share knowledge and passion about our beloved native plants and animals. Here are some ways you can connect with like-minded folk in your community.

Seedy Saturdays

Each spring, Seedy Saturdays (or sometimes Sundays) take place across the country. It is a nice way to share seeds as well as conversation and ideas with local gardening enthusiasts. Some have talks or workshops in addition to booths by local groups. There is an increase in the popularity of native plants at these events, so check out the link below for an event near you.

Seedy Saturdays and Events

Horticultural Societies

These local groups are a good way to meet other gardeners in your area. More and more horticultural groups are embracing native plants and wildlife-friendly gardening. PDF

Nature / Field Naturalist Clubs

While these groups do not have a focus on gardening, they do have talks, walks and experts who know about the local flora. Joining in can be a great way to discover the native plants of your area as well as the wildlife that rely on them. Groups are by province so to find one in your area you can search by your province, municipality or county.

Facebook Groups

In this day and age, it’s no surprise that many groups are found online. There are now a multitude of groups all about native plants and CWF has one for wildlife-friendly gardening. Link.

Master Gardeners

And while there is no actual Master Gardener group to join, unless you train to become one, they are nevertheless wonderful people to connect with for guidance and inspiration. You may see them have a table at your local farmer’s market, country fair or other community events. They are also searchable by province, in case you want to see more about them online.

Community Events

By attending relevant community events, you can speak with other local groups, besides Master Gardeners. Keep your eyes out for talks, workshops and fairs that relate to Earth Day, pollinators or birds, biodynamic gardening, tree planting and more.