Right now, shorelines across Canada are being restored with native species of plants which will help stabilize soils and prevent erosion, slow down and reduce overland runoff, and provide beautiful and valuable wildlife habitat. You can ensure this important work continues with a thoughtful Mother’s Day gift.
Thanks to the talents of Ottawa nature artist Lynn Moore, you can now give a “bouquet” of native wildflowers for Mother’s Day! This bouquet of Wild Bergamot and Wild Columbine will have lasting impacts for generations of humans and wildlife to come, and provide you with a meaningful gift to give to your Mom, Grandma, Aunt, or other impactful person in your life.
With each symbolic adoption, you will receive a beautiful 5”x7” postcard featuring information about the adoption as well as a blank honour card for you to personalize and give as a gift.
You can give many different plant-related symbolic adoptions, including:
Adopt a Native Wildflower “Bouquet”
Thanks to the talents of Ottawa nature artist Lynn Moore, you can now give a “bouquet” of native wildflowers this Mother’s Day! This bouquet of Wild Bergamot and Wild Columbine will have lasting impacts for generations of humans and wildlife to come, and provide you with a meaningful gift to give to your Mom, Grandma, Aunt, or other impactful person in your life. This bouquet comes with two postcards: one Wild Columbine, and one Wild Bergamot. Please note no live flowers are included in this “bouquet”; you will only receive postcards.
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Planting wildflower species provides food and habitat for pollinator species like bees, butterflies, bats, and hummingbirds. These insects and animals play a critical role in natural ecosystems and in human food production. Unfortunately, many of our pollinator populations are declining due to habitat loss, climate change, invasive species, new diseases, and pesticide use. By planting native wildflower species, like Black-Eyed Susan, Purple Coneflower, Cardinal Flower, and Butterfly Milkweed, you will provide important food sources for pollinator species and help keep their populations healthy.
Adopt Common Milkweed (Plant Pollinator Habitat for a Property)
Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
The bright colours of Wild Columbine can be seen in dry or moist forests, fens and bogs, on rocky slopes, and along stream or lake shorelines. This native and perennial plant is a beautiful sight and is easy to recognize by its nodding flowers which droop downwards off the end of the stem. The red and yellow flowers bloom from April to July and are perfectly shaped for hummingbirds and long-tongued insects like butterflies. With this symbolic adoption, you will help plant more Wild Columbine along Canadian shorelines, which will provide important food sources for pollinator species and keep their populations healthy.
Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)
Trees protect shorelines. Species like Silver Maple are hardy and fast-growing, making them one of the most effective plants for shoreline restoration. They have a significant root system making them ideal for controlling erosion as well as filtering excess nutrients and contaminants from entering the water. Silver Maple also helps wildlife by producing seeds for food, habitat, and shelter. These trees are tolerant of flooding, drought, urban pollution, and poor soil. This adaptability makes them perfect for difficult shoreline sites with fluctuating water levels. By symbolically adopting a tree, you will protect a shoreline for over 100 years.
Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
The showy Wild Bergamot flowers can be seen in full bloom between July and September and are a beautiful lavender/pink. These native and perennial wildflowers belong to the mint family and can grow to a metre in height. They spread well along shorelines, with their roots helping to stabilize soils, reduce erosion, and protect freshwater quality. With this symbolic adoption, you will help plant more Wild Bergamot along Canadian shorelines, providing important food sources and habitat for pollinator and wildlife species and keeping their populations healthy.
Looking for a paper-free option? Make an in honour donation for your loved one and we’ll email you an e-card to give instead. All symbolic adoptions and in honour donations are eligible for a Canadian tax receipt. All donations raised go directly back into Watersheds Canada’s habitat and shoreline restoration projects, including the Natural Edge Program and Fish Habitat Program.