The Yorkton and District Horticultural Society will be holding their regular meeting on Thursday, May 16 in the Sunshine Room at SIGN on North Street. Special guest will be Russ Brunt, from Leprechaun Taps, Kamsack, talking to us about "Producing Maple Syrup in Saskatchewan". Everyone is welcome!
The Spring Plant and Bulb Sale is on Friday, May 24, 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Parkland Mall, Yorkton. Come early for best selection! If we run out of plants, the sale is over! Also that same day, the Yorkton Film Festival and the Yorkton and District Horticultural Society invite you to come to the Gallagher Centre at 2:50 p.m. for the screening of the film "Smarty Plants", a lighthearted look at how plants behave, revealing a world where plants are as busy, responsive and complex as we are. It's fun, and it's FREE! Everyone is welcome.
Last time we chatted, I was telling you about the Allen Sapp Gallery Healing Garden in North Battleford. So today, let me tell you what Kjelte Anderson, project coordinator of the garden, told me about how the garden is set up. "The garden is in the shape of a medicine wheel with four quadrants and a spiral pathway that leads to the centre gathering circle. The medicine wheel is approximately 20 metres in diameter. The soil was turned in Fall 2011 and over 40 yards of organic matter was added to enrich the soil, most of which was diverted from the local landfill. In Spring 2012, the garden was planted by keen volunteers on a community planting day. In addition, many school groups took part in an interactive Healing Garden education program offered by the gallery that included putting some of the new plants in the ground."
And what plants does it contain? "There are over 30 species of native medicinal plants growing in the Healing Garden with new plants being added. The four growing beds closest to the central circle each feature one of the four sacred medicines - sweetgrass, sage, tobacco (native variety grown is kinninkinnick or bearberry), and cedar). These are plants that have a particularly important place in First Nations spirituality. They are used ceremonially. In addition, there is a berry bed - which has strawberries, raspberries, and goldenrod growing. There is boreal bed, which has wild black currant, water birch, wild mint, wild bergamot, and giant hyssop. There is prairie bed with gaillardia, old man's whiskers, echinacea, purple clover, and gumweed. There is also a shrub row with chokecherry, saskatoon berry, and hawthorn. So there is LOTS!" says Kjelte.
As for maintenance, Kjelte explained how it works. "Every Wednesday evening for the entire first growing season, Kjelti hosted a workbee where anyone could show up, lend a hand, drink tea, and learn about medicinal plants. It was a good way to build interest in the project and at the same time get the important work (weeding) done. The garden is supported by the City of North Battleford, who provide the land on which it is growing, as well as equipment, materials, labour, and expertise. I think it is really innovative and progressive of the City to support a project like this. It is also supported through TD Friends of the Environment, SaskEnergy, and the Walmart Evergreen Fund."
Kjelte said if you'd like to find out more, just call! " call The Allen Sapp Gallery at 306 445 1760 and speak with Kjelti (just so you know it is pronounced Kel-tee)."
It sounds like a wonderful place. If you're in the area, stop in! Special thanks to Kjelte for all her help and information about this very special, inspiring garden. Have a great week.
