East Side Native Plant Garden

The area between Lake Appert and the Allendale Brook that is a short distance north of the Pirie-Mayhood Tower was overgrown with invasive Autumn Olive shrubs until the Fall of 2023 when a team of Fyke Nature Association volunteers systematically removed them by the hundreds, digging them up by the roots.

This area was replanted with deer resistant native species in the spring of 2024: Blue Mistflower, Foxglove Beardtongue, Cattail, Blue Vervain, New York Ironweed, Joe Pye Weed, Swamp Milkweed, Blue Lobelia, Swamp Rose Mallow, Mountain Mint, Black Chokeberry, Winterberry, and Groundsel Tree.

Over the spring and summer the volunteers frequently worked in the garden, watering and weeding. Everyone was invited to come and see up close how the garden is growing at an Open House hosted on July 20.

An additional planting was added in late September, including Swamp Sunflower, Cardinal Flower, Lizards Tail, and New York Aster. Including the spring and fall plantings, a total of 1,246 "plugs" were planted in the garden.

There are also a number of native plants that were already present and are flourishing now that the introduced species have been removed and the deer have been fenced out. The combined total of native plant species that have been identified so far in the garden is 57.

The area is enclosed by a temporary deer fence until the plants get established. If all goes well, the plants will be hardy and be able to survive the deer browsing when the fence is removed.

You can view images of each species that was planted here.

You can find information about what was planted in spring 2024 here.

You can watch a volunteer explain what we are doing here.

You can find the list of all the native species in the garden with links to images and information about each species here.

If you would like to help out with this project, please provide your contact information on our Volunteer Opportunities webpage.

You can also show your support by making a donation or joining us as members of the Fyke Nature Association.