Nature House Plant Walk
Native Plant Garden Restorative Education Project
In 2022 we took a collaborative, restorative education approach to create a self-guided walk and game, weaving Indigenous and Western knowledge. New interpretive signage was installed in the Native Plant Garden for eleven culturally and ecologically significant native species. These species are pictured below - click on them to learn more!
Brochures are available in the Nature House, which can be used as either a scavenger hunt-style game called Zombie Apocalypse or as a self-guided tour.
Click here for the digital pdf of the brochure: Native Plant Garden Brochure
This Restorative Education project was created by teachers Mx. Emily Menzies, Mr. Levi Wilson, and their students from Shoreline Middle School, Colquitz Middle School, and Ditidaht Community School (2019-2024). For more information, please visit www.restorativeducation.com .
This project is dedicated to all the First Nations young people who are working to reawaken and become fluent in their ancestral languages, including Mx. Menzie’s and Mr. Wilson’s children and extended family. This is an effort towards Truth and Reconciliation, whereby First Nations and non-Indigenous students have the opportunity to learn the Indigenous names and value of culturally-significant native plants.
May these signs inspire and help you along on your journey!
The Native Plant Garden
The Native Plant Garden that surrounds the Swan Lake Nature House provides a living example of over 80 species of plants native to southern Vancouver Island. The garden is maintained by our volunteers and site team. Native plants are added as habitat is restored, and the garden is used by the Sanctuary as an educational display for the public.
Why Native Plants?
• They are ecologically and culturally significant
• They can help restore ecosystems to their natural states
• They provide habitat for wildlife
• They attract birds, butterflies, and other pollinators
• They are adapted to local soil and weather conditions, so they require less water and other resources
• They are hardier and more disease resistant
• They connect people with nature and culture
History of the Swan Lake Native Plant Garden
In 1984, with assistance from a Federal Government Summer Works project, the Swan Lake area garden shrubs and gazebo were removed, a swimming pool was filled in with soil, and a trail system was created. Planting began with many native plants rescued from development sites in the Victoria area.
In 1988 the Swan Lake Nature House was built and the garden area expanded. A large lawn area was removed to expose the bedrock underneath, and a decaying rock wall became reptile habitat.
In 2000, the CRD Water Services Department provided a $10,000 grant to install a water-conserving irrigation system into the native plant garden. This method of irrigation included a pond and a drip fountain that were built to receive water from the nature house roof drains.
Native Plant Gardening Workshops
The Nature Sanctuary and CRD Parks and Environmental Services have teamed up to offer an introductory course on gardening with native plants. The programs run during the spring and fall - the current schedule can be seen here. We recommend that you reserve a space early as these workshops always fill up quickly.
Native Plant Sales
The Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary encourages homeowners to use native plants in their gardens.
We sell native plants during our Plant Sale in the spring of each year.
Sign up here for our free e-newsletter learn when online pre-order sales open!
Recommended Books
Native Plant Identification:
• Plants of Coastal British Columbia including Washington, Oregon and Alaska by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon
Gardening With Native Plants:
• Native Plants in the Coastal Garden A Guide for Gardeners in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest by April Pettinger and Brenda Costanzo
• Attracting Wildlife to your Yard: The New Gardening for Wildlife A Guide for Nature Lovers by Bill Merilees
