Oct 23, 2024
Edmonton Native Plant Society creates new native plant habitats at the Edmonton Valley Zoo.
In 2023, staff at the Edmonton Valley Zoo and ENPS board members discussed the possibility of transforming two areas of the Zoo grounds into native plant habitats. In mid-September of this year, preparation and planting of the two areas in the Zoo took place in earnest.
On September 11, one team prepared the ground at the new ground squirrel exhibit under development. It was led by Liz Deleeuw of the ENPS and Mitchell Davis of the Zoo, with additional help from volunteers and Zoo staff, including Catherine Shier, conservation coordinator, who is overseeing the whole project. They worked hard to remove the remaining weeds (which had previously been under a tarp for several months as stage one of weed control) and to turn over the soil to ready it for planting.
Meanwhile, a second team, with Patsy Cotterill and Susan Neuman of the ENPS and Geoff Bailey and Issra Syed of the Zoo, worked on clearing the cattail swale and its surrounds just inside the gate, determined to be the best place to accommodate our riparian plants. It was tough going, and Geoff got very dirty digging out specimens of a noxious weed, pale yellow iris, from among the cattails.
Planting of plugs took place two days later, on September 13, Zoo staff having continued with preparations in the interim. The ground squirrel exhibit has subsequently been mulched.
Needless to say, we look forward to seeing the results of our labours next year. Fingers crossed that we get good establishment. We do, of course, anticipate plenty more work before these areas are successfully re-vegetated and weed-free, and we’ll be welcoming volunteers to assist us in this endeavour.
