NANPS Garden Award Background original

We want to hear about your native plant project and what make it special…to discover what wonderful and interesting things you are doing that support native plant habitats in small gardens or large restoration projects across the continent. To share and celebrate these efforts, NANPS has created the Native Plant Garden Award.

What NANPS wants to celebrate:

NANPS is looking to celebrate a member’s project that best reflect NANPS’s mandate to study, conserve, cultivate and restore North America’s native flora.

Using this principle as a guideline, submissions should address:

  • Plant communities and habitat creation. Good plant combinations are more than just aesthetically pleasing…they provide continuity and sustainability for a host of organisms throughout their life-cycles. If the plant combinations in your project mimic natural plant communities found in your area…tell us! Plants form the basis of habitat and we hope to learn how your project reflects that.
  • Suitability. It is important that your planting fits into its location or environment. As well, this construction should not disrupt or destroy other environments (eg. The obtaining of materials from a natural area, such as rocks from an escarpment or alvar, in order to recreate a similar area in your backyard).
  • Diversity. Does your creation offer a range of species or habitats?
  • Genetic Provenance. A native plant is only truly native when obtained from locally originating stock. While a species be native to your area, if the parent plant originated more than 200 km from your location, slight differences in genetic makeup may make it an unsuitable choice for your garden and may weaken gene pools of nearby wild stock.
  • Ethics. Seeds and plants are ethically obtained (ie. Plants are not dug from the wild unless via a plant rescue).
  • Aesthetics. Community and neighbourhood acceptance of native plants is key to their long term survival. Your project should attempt to project a positive image of indigenous species. It might even serve as a “demonstration garden”, reflecting possibilities for the integration of native species back into your piece of the planet.

What NANPS will do with your submission:

NANPS will review all submissions and, where feasible, arrange a site visit.

Please submit nominations to nanps@nanps.org by September 1st.

Photos and descriptions of the best entries will be posted on NANPS website and in the Blazing Star. How often or how many entries will be posted will depend on the quantity and quality of your submissions.

Award recognition will include a garden plaque, certificate, and pewter NANPS logo pin.

Official recognition and the presentation of the certificate and plaque will be made at NANPS Annual General Meeting.

Please note:

Submissions, including photos / other documentation, will not be returned.

Submitter must either own or have written permission of the owner to enter.

Submitter confirms that the information sent in is true and accurate to the best of their knowledge.

Submissions become the property of NANPS and may be used in its website or other publications.

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NANPS is interested in learning about your project.

Tell us:

  • how long you’ve been working on this project
  • the overall maintenance requirements (type, frequency, intensity)
  • what habitats or communities have been created; special features
  • what challenges you’ve encountered
  • what effect this project has on people, community, wildlife, etc.
  • list of native plants – by species & common name
  • how/where you obtained your plants
  • if you receive outside funding for your project
  • significant features

 

While you needn’t address each of these components, the additional information you provide will serve to strengthen and support your submission.

Please be sure to include your list of native plants (by species & common name), and how/where you obtained your plants, as best you can.

Also include a sketch of your garden indicating the general layout with photographs of key features.

These resources may be helpful in completing your submission:

http://plants.usda.gov/
http://www.evergreen.ca/en/
http://www.toronto.ca/trees/pdfs/Fact_2…

OR contact your local native plant society for more advice.

This Checklist is provided for your convenience. If you wish to, download and include with your submission, or simply use as a reference point to help describe your project. Please include any relevant additional information.

Location: _____________________________

Closest Urban Centre:__________ State/Province:_____

Type of location:

___  Urban
___  Suburban
___  Rural
___  Yard (approx size):_______
___  Acreage (approx. size):__________

What type of project:

___  Garden / Restoration / Other
___  Alvar
___  Shoreline
___  Prairie
___  Meadow
___  Alpine
___  Tundra
___  Forest: Carolinian, Deciduous, Boreal…________
___  Desert
___  Wetland: Fen, Bog, Swam…________
___  Other ___________________________

 

Is there a water source for wildlife?

___  Lake
___  Pond
___  Stream
___  Birdbath/fountain
___  Other: _______________

 

Do you use

  • Pesticides: Never Sometimes Rarely

    • What type? __________________________ 
    Reason for last application: _____________________

  • Herbicides: Never Sometimes Rarely

    • What type? ________________________ 
    Reason for last application: ________________________________

Watering:

___  Rain barrel or natural water collection only
        (eg. ___  Well, stream, pond).
___  Use municipal (treated) water
___  Drought watering only
___  More frequent: How often ____________

Soil type(s): Clay  Sand  Loam  Silt 
Other ___________

General Conditions:

Sunny & Dry  Shady & Dry  Shady & Wet….

____________________________________________