June 11th, 2024

As you approach Karen Yearsley’s home, you are immediately greeted by a picturesque garden scene. A beautiful hand-made sign reads “Wicklow Village Little Free Seed and Plant Stand”, beside which stands a hand-painted box containing seeds, and a row of wooden shelves adorned with a collection of happy little seedlings that passersby are free to take as they need, or contribute to. To the left of the driveway, a curated native plant garden basks in the sun, sporting a variety of native plant species carefully selected for their ability to support pollinator populations.

This first glimpse into Karen’s home highlights the ecological stewardship, education, and community-building values Karen weaves into her everyday life.

In her backyard, Karen has worked for many years to restore a section of her property to an oak meadow, lush with snowberry, camas, shootingstar, and salvaged arbutus trees. Karen is an active member of the Cedar Hill Urban Food Farmers (CHUFF), a long-time HAT supporter, and an inspiration to anyone looking to steward nature in an urban space. Read our conversation with Karen below.

How did you first hear about HAT? What drew you to HAT as an organization?

I don't remember exactly but it must have been in the late 1990s soon after it was formed, probably from some of the founders with whom I had work connections (Eric Lofroth, Andrew Harcombe). I remember enjoying some of the early Musical HATs events.

HAT's values have always been in sync with mine so when someone suggested standing for the board back in 2007, I volunteered, and have been volunteering ever since.

What do you like best about HAT?

*Broad-leaved shootingstar (Primula hendersonii)*

Hard to choose: that it's local, extremely well run, has great staff, goes quietly about implementing its mandate; accomplishes so much excellent conservation and education work for such a small organization working in an area of high land prices. I could go on...

Why is protecting and restoring natural habitats important to you?

Natural ecosystems are essential to supporting the continued presence of the species native to a particular area. We are living in a place where a large proportion of these ecosystems have been lost to human activities, so it's critical to conserve and restore what we can.

What is particularly important about meadow ecosystems?

All ecosystems are important to the particular plants and animals that depend on them. Garry oak meadows, however, are extremely rare, both because there isn't much area that is suitable to support them and because the same area is very desirable for human occupation.

Tell us about your meadow restoration project. What did this space look like when you first moved in? What have been some of the biggest steps along the way?

*Karen's meadow in 2009, overtaken by invasive blackberry and ivy*

The back half of my lot was completely overgrown with invasive exotic species: mainly blackberry but also a lot of ivy, with periwinkle coming in around the edges. Fortunately, there was no broom or morning glory and very little daphne. It was impossible to walk to the back of the lot without having a full suit of heavy-duty raingear on. Even though there were few native understory plants, the 5 large oak trees and grove of smaller ones anchored the site. They were one of the components that most attracted me to the property.

The first step was to tackle the invasives, which took several summers of hired help to dig out all the roots, haul the brush out and then haul leaves back up to protect the disturbed soil and discourage weed growth.

Once the invasives were out, the yard was fenced to keep deer out, and I started planting clusters of native shrubs and a hedgerow along the back border. Without the blackberry and deer to keep it in check, however, the native snowberry quickly expanded and requires regular control. After several years of manual pulling, I resorted to hand-cutting large old stems, then weedwacking the new snowberry shoots a couple of times a season to keep the paths clear.

Most of the trees and shrubs I planted have done well, but a few have died from drought, despite the fact that I still water some of the plantings once or twice during the dry season. In some cases, this may have been because of a poor choice of microsite.

Sea blush (Plectritis congesta)

Small-flowered blue-eyed Mary (Collinsia parviflora)

Last year I started to plant small clusters of some of the flowering herbs so characteristic of this ecosystem, with mixed results. Sea blush and small-flowered-blue-eyed Mary have seeded themselves and are blooming again this year as are some previous plantings of fawn lilies, camas, and shooting stars. But most of the other plantings from last year did not survive. I suspect a combination of drought, competition from existing plants and squirrels. I will try protecting future plantings with wire mesh, weeding around the planting spots and monitoring for moisture until they are established.

How did you get started with your boulevard native plant pollinator garden?

I started the native plant pollinator garden two years ago on the boulevard in front of my property. In the fall of 2022, I laid down 2 layers of cardboard and a thick layer of oak leaves. In the spring of 2023, a 2x6 frame was built around the patch and soil added. I purchased and planted some key species with the intention of starting more from seed. Although I have not seeded anything yet, the plants I did put in have all survived and are thriving well. My hope is that this patch will provide interest and education to passersby as many people walk and bike along my street.

In your opinion, what is the connection between conservation and urban gardening/food growing?

A vegetable garden is a highly altered environment. However, I use organic growing methods and try to maintain food for pollinators so lots of invertebrates, and a few vertebrates, manage to find useful habitats. The half of my yard being restored to the native ecosystem with only native plants in it, and the many native plants growing in my flower beds provide habitat and food that support a diverse array of native species, some of which pollinate my crops and feed on "pests". Though I don't put bird feeders out, there are always lots of birds in my yard including the vegetable garden. Perhaps most importantly, gardening encourages observation and appreciation of the inter-connectedness of life.

What advice would you give to someone who is working on their own restoration project?

Take the time to understand the particular conditions on your site: moisture, drought, exposure, seepage, soil type and depth, and drainage. Visit protected areas that have similar conditions and observe what species are growing there, then select plants that would naturally thrive in those conditions.

What is one small thing people can do that can make a difference for the environment?

Find ways to care for whatever part of the natural world you are in contact with, however small that might be. Even a container of plants that attract and feed pollinators on a balcony could provide a link in a wider pollinator corridor.

We would like to extend our thanks to Karen for being such a dedicated steward and a wonderful member of the HAT community.

Scroll through the photos below to see more of the native plant community found in Karen’s backyard!