The Story of Bewild Gardens and its Mission to Create Pollinator-Friendly Habitats

Bewild Gardens was born out of my desire to transform my monoculture front lawn into a more diverse plant community. Although I had experience maintaining a vegetable garden in my backyard, working with perennials was new to me. Nevertheless, I took on the challenge of digging up my front lawn and creating a garden on my own. 

As I worked with the soil and plants, I discovered a love for gardening. The front garden had its share of successes and failures, but I learned from observation and adapted to the environment. I became fascinated by the pollinators and invertebrates that visited the garden, and I began to understand the importance of the relationship between native plants and wildlife. I saw the potential to create habitats for both to thrive and wanted to make a difference. 

Finding native plants proved to be a bit of a challenge, as they were not readily available in nurseries. So, I began to research how to grow them myself, collecting seeds and connecting with groups like Project Swallowtail and North American Native Plant Society to learn from other knowledgable native plant gardeners. I started growing plants indoor and outdoors, expanding my knowledge and expertise. 

During this time, I also noticed invasive species in my area, particularly the tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) that was taking over the laneway near my home. I wondered if I could eradicate the tree of heaven and replace it with native plants to provide habitat for pollinators. I took three years of digging, sawing, and hand-picking, but eventually, the tree of heaven was gone, and I replaced it with a pollinator-friendly habitat I called Lepidoptera Lane. 

I continued to seek out opportunities to help my community and volunteered on various community-led gardening efforts. Now, with Bewild Gardens, I want to share the joy of creating beautiful gardens that benefit people and pollinators. I want to show that gardens are more than just pretty blooms; they are vital habitats for pollinators and wildlife in the urban environment. Whether you have a small balcony or a large yard, your space can a difference for pollinators. Let Bewild Gardens help you realize the potential of your garden.