Wild About Moose Jaw and the Moose Jaw Nature Society have events coming up this weekend and on April 26, including a presentation on co-existing with black bears and moose, an annual Crocus Walk out at Buffalo Pound, and a pollinator garden seed exchange at the Moose Jaw Public Library (MJPL).
“We don’t have the opportunity to see large creatures in and around Moose Jaw,” said Rich Pickering, president of the Moose Jaw Nature Society and a member of Wild About Moose Jaw.
“But if you take the time to slow down and look closely, especially at any flowering plants, you’ll see that they’re swarming with pollinators. Butterflies, bees, flies, moths — a lot of them are really small, so you have to take your time and just watch. But, all of a sudden, you can get immersed in nature, even in your own backyard.”
Alongside appreciating the natural world, Wild About Moose Jaw encourages residents to contribute to it, and to the biodiversity of the city, by planting pollinator gardens or, alternatively, allowing a portion of their garden to return to meadow.
Some of the best native plants to include in a pollinator garden are Milkweed (Asclepias spp.), essential for monarch butterflies as it serves as the only host plant for their caterpillars, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), which attracts bees snd butterflies and provides seeds for birds like finches. Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) is a hardy perennial that thrives in poor soil and dry conditions, making it a low-maintenance option that supports various pollinators. Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is a mainstay, blooming late in the season to offer crucial nectar for bees and butterflies after other flowers have faded.
These native plants are well-adapted to the local climate and soil, reducing the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Additionally, they improve soil health and resist pests naturally, making your garden easier to maintain while providing inviting, life-sustaining resources for grateful local wildlife.
“Songbirds require insects for raising their young, so if you have a lot of insects around, you have a chance of having songbirds around,” Pickering said. “And then there’s just the aesthetic of having a lot of different flowers in your yard. You can arrange them so they have different bloom dates, so you can actually have flowers during the whole growing season.
“You can turn your whole yard into its own mini ecosystem. And a well-planned native wildflower garden uses less water. Most of them, if the plants are chosen for this area, you don’t have to water them at all once they’re established.”
Events
This Friday, April 18 at 7 p.m. at Timothy Eaton Gardens on Main Street, there’s a presentation by Mark Dallyn, president and founder of Healing Haven Wildlife Rescue (HHWR) near Dorintosh, Sask.
Dallyn will speak about co-existing with black bears and moose, also touching on his experience with rehabilitating black bear cubs and moose calves in northern Sask. HHWR has rehabilitated sick, injured, and orphaned species across north and central Saskatchewan since 2009.
On Saturday, April 19, there’s the annual Crocus Walk at Nicolle Flats in Buffalo Pound Provincial Park. Participants will meet in the Town ‘n’ Country Mall parking lot in front of the Dollarama at 1 p.m. and car pool from there. Participants are responsible for their own entry fees.
Lastly, on Saturday, April 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the theatre of the Moose Jaw Public Library, there is a pollinator garden/seed exchange event in honour of Earth Day. Experienced naturalist and landscaper Naomi Hunter will host a workshop, Wild About Moose Jaw will speak about bees, and the afternoon will end with a seed exchange — native plants only.
Learn more and ask questions by following Wild About Moose Jaw on Facebook.