Winnipeg Wildflower Project

​If you walked along the Greenway in the late summer or fall, you may have noticed what appeared to be a bed of straw just off the trail west of St.Mary’s Rd. What could the purpose of that be? Let us tell you!
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The bed of straw is actually a wildflower garden plot, planted by a new organization called Winnipeg Wildflower Project. The garden plot contains several different varieties of wildflowers and grasses sourced from Prairie Originals, and the straw helps the young plants get established by suppressing weeds and preserving soil moisture. Once established, seed from the plot will be collected to grow native grasses and wildflowers elsewhere in the city

new wildflower plot, late June.

​Nicole Webster and Kelly Leask, the coordinators of Winnipeg Wildflower Project, approached Bishop Grandin Greenway about the project after their original location, the former site of Crampton’s Market further down Bishop Grandin Blvd, fell through. The plot was established with the help of a grant from Taking It Global in partnership with the Government of Canada/Canada Service Corps, as well as the assistance of several volunteers.

butterflies on some aster flowers

With the onset of winter the plot will soon be covered in snow, but we look forward to seeing the garden develop next spring and will bring you more updates as that happens. If you’re on Instagram, follow @wpgwildflowerproject for great photos and videos of the project as it progresses.