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These eight gardens are located on the City of Ottawa Right of Way on both sides of West Donald Street from the entrance to the Rideau Sports Club to North River Road.
This pollinator garden was created to support local biodiversity while beautifying a shared community space. Featuring a diverse collection of wildflowers native to the Ottawa and Ontario region, the garden provides important habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators throughout the growing season.
The project was developed in partnership with the Overbrook Community Association and established on City of Ottawa Right-of-Ways at the Rideau Sports Centre. Generous donations of plants and seeds from the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library and local Overbrook residents helped bring the garden to life. Students from Ottawa Technical Secondary School also played a key role in the project, assisting with the planting of the 400-square-foot garden located alongside the pickleball courts. To encourage healthy plant growth and reduce maintenance requirements, invasive plants and weeds were suppressed using a protective layer of woodchip mulch. Together, these efforts have created a vibrant pollinator habitat that strengthens connections between people, nature, and the local community.
Contact: [email protected]
Stiff or Ohio Goldenrod: A late-season bloomer that provides an important source of nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators when few other flowers remain. Its seeds also provide food for birds throughout the fall and winter.
Obedient Plant: This striking native wildflower attracts a wide variety of pollinators, i ncluding bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Its tubular flowers provide a rich source of nectar throughout the summer.
Tickweed (Coreopsis): Tickweed's bright yellow flowers attract numerous native bees and butterflies. It is drought-tolerant and helps support pollinator populations in a variety of habitats.
Yellow Lilies: These vibrant flowers provide nectar for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Their large blooms add colour to gardens while supporting local pollinator communities.
Virginia Bower: A fast-growing native vine, Virginia Bower produces masses of white flowers that attract bees and other beneficial insects. Its dense growth also provides shelter for wildlife.
Common Milkweed: Best known as a host plant for Monarch butterflies, Common Milkweed is essential for their life cycle. Its fragrant flowers also attract a wide range of pollinators.
Purple New England Aster: Blooming late into the fall, this native wildflower provides critical nectar for migrating Monarch butterflies and other pollinators preparing for winter.
Sedge Grass: Sedges provide important habitat and nesting material for many insects and birds. Their extensive root systems also help stabilize soil and improve water retention.
Canadian Anemone: This hardy native plant spreads to create excellent ground cover while providing pollen for bees and other beneficial insects. It is well suited to naturalized gardens and restoration projects.
Pearly Everlasting: A valuable host plant for the American Lady butterfly, Pearly Everlasting supports both caterpillars and adult pollinators. Its distinctive white flowers also persist well into the fall.
Pink and Yellow Fleabane: These daisy-like flowers provide nectar and pollen for a variety of native bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. They are among the earliest wildflowers to bloom in many habitats.
Prairie Smoke: An early-blooming native perennial that provides an important nectar source for spring pollinators. Its unique feathery seed heads add visual interest long after flowering.
Scarlet Beebalm: A favourite of hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, Scarlet Beebalm produces bright red flowers rich in nectar. It also helps support pollinator diversity throughout the summer.
Calendula: Although not native to Ontario, Calendula is highly attractive to bees and other beneficial insects. Its long flowering period provides a reliable source of nectar and pollen throughout the growing season.
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A huge thank you to our funders at Ottawa Community Foundation for making this project possible! If you would like to be one of the several donors who support our pollinator gardens, please contact [email protected].
