Displays
The Ecology Park has a collection of displays that demonstrate
many different approaches to good land stewardship. This is just
a sample of what you'll see when you visit the park.
Ecology Garden
This is the "teaching hub" of the park and contains a
variety of smaller theme areas. Visit the Compost Clinic to watch
how "black gold" is made.
The Wildlife Garden shows many beautiful plants that will attract
a host of birds, butterflies and other fascinating friends to your
yard. In the Food Garden, you can learn how to grow vegetables organically,
using small spaces to good advantage. The Herb Garden has an assortment
of culinary as well as medicinal plants that spice up a meal, help
you feel better or even attract beneficial insects. And don't miss
the Children's Garden, with its collection of animal costumes,
"scratch and sniff" plants, botanical Pet Shop, Puppet
Theatre and lots of hands-on activities. Don't forget to find your
way through the Maze made of native trees and shrubs while you're
there!
Jack Harris Garden
This lovely garden, centred around a gazebo and pond, is designed
to attract butterflies. With its collection of nectar and host plants,
the Jack Harris Garden attracts a host of winged beauties during
the growing season.
Throughout the garden, a collection of paintings of local butterflies
by regional artists provide focal points for a tranquil stroll.
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Harris Garden Gazebo
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Flowers in Harris Garden
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Low Water Garden
Sponsored by Peterborough Utilities Services, the Low Water Garden
highlights techniques for reducing water consumption in the yard.
With its collection of attractive, drought-tolerant plants, this
garden also illustrates the benefits of collecting rainwater, and
retaining it through the use of compost and mulching.
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| Xeriscape Plants |
Xeriscape Plants and Dry Riverbed |
Yard of Plenty
Much time and money is spent maintaining yards that yield little
in return.
The Yard of Plenty presents ideas for using urban spaces to grow
attractive food plants, herbs for seasonings and plants for crafts
and cutflowers.
Everything in this garden has a use, as well as being attractive!
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| Royal Burgundy beans and Amaranth in the Yard of Plenty |
Shoreline Garden
This newest addition to the Ecology Park's display gardens illustrates
the importance of plant diversity along shorelines to protect habitat,
filter runoff and provide bank stability. This tranquil garden combines
native plants with an attractive view of Meade Creek.
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| Fallen log in woodland
area
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Nature Trail
The woodland surrounding the nature trail is a multi-year
project to rebuild a native woodland in an area that was mown lawn
until 1993. A variety of shade-tolerant native trees, shrubs and wildflowers
have been planted here, and the current phase of this restoration
project involves removing invasive exotic plants such as European
Buckthorn which can threaten the survival of the native plants. The
Peterborough Field Naturalists maintain bird feeders along the trail
during the winter months.
Meadow/Prairie
In the centre of the Ecology Park is an area of grassland and wildflowers
which has been interplanted with a variety of locally native tallgrass
prairie plants. This area is used for research on prairie restoration
as well as an excellent site for insect and bird observation.
Other Displays
Throughout the park is an ever-expanding collection of displays
to highlight aspects of environmental stewardship, resource conservation
and natural history. Current displays include a bench of straw-bale
construction, an interactive display showing water protection by
restricting livestock access, reconstruction of a historic wigwam
as well as a human-sized beaver lodge which can accommodate an entire
class of children! Finding creative and lighthearted ways of teaching
how to build the health of the world we share, is the very heart
of Ecology Park activities.
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