THE ALCOVE GARDEN
630 Island Park Drive - South side of Kitchissippi United Church, Ottawa, Ontario
Welcome to The Alcove Garden. Long ago, before Canada’s early colonists arrived, The Alcove Garden was a wild space, full of native plants, birds, insects and other wildlife. Algonquin people called it their home.
These days, the Master Gardeners of Ottawa-Carleton are working to rehabilitate and restore this garden. Our goal is to create a wildlife garden full of native plant species to benefit biodiversity.
Native plants co-evolved with beneficial pollinators that support wildlife and people in the region. You will likely see these insects when you visit, but there is no need to be afraid. These pollinators are busy working, buzzing about the flowers collecting pollen and nectar. Without them, we wouldn’t enjoy many of the fruits and vegetables that we eat every day.
While you’re visiting the garden, take a look at the signage mounted on the brick wall at the east end of the garden explaining its history. It is translated into three languages: English, French and Algonquin.
Volunteers from Kitchissippi United Church and Ecology Ottawa, a local environmental group, removed the original asphalt from the site a few years ago. After de-paving, they added soil and plants. More recently, Master Gardeners have created a new garden design and site plan, amended the soil, removed plants and added more native plants. It was officially opened in September 2021. Master Gardeners continue to maintain The Alcove Garden, learn from it and share knowledge with anyone interested in native plants.
FIND PLANTS BY LOCATION
| Scientific name | Common names | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Allium schoenoprasum | Chives | Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis) |
| Asclepias incarnata | Swamp milkweed | Apocynaceae (Dogbanes) |
| Asclepias tuberosa | Butterfly weed | Apocynaceae (Dogbanes) |
| Achillea millefolium | Common yarrow | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Coreopsis lanceolata | Lance-leaved coreopsis | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Coreopsis verticillata | Threadleaf coreopsis, Whorled tickseed | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Echinacea purpurea | Purple coneflower | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Eutrochium maculatum | Spotted joe-pye weed | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Heliopsis helianthoides | False sunflower, Rough oxeye, Smooth oxeye | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Liatris spicata | Dense blazing star | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Rudbeckia fulgida | Orange coneflower, Black-eyed susan | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Solidago canadensis | Canada goldenrod | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Solidago flexicaulis | Broadleaved goldenrod, Zigzag goldenrod | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | New England aster | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Symphyotrichum oolentangiense | Skyblue aster, Azure aster | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Lobelia siphilitica | Blue cardinal flower, Great blue lobelia | Campanulaceae (Bellflowers) |
| Hylotelephium spectabile | Showy stonecrop, Iceplant, Butterfly stonecrop | Crassulaceae (Stonecrops) |
| Geranium cinereum | Ashy cranesbill | Geraniaceae (Geraniums) |
| Agastache foeniculum | Anise hyssop | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Monarda didyma | Red bergamot, beebalm | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Monarda didyma | dwarf beebalm | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Nepeta x faassenii | Catmint, Faassen's catmint | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Physostegia virginiana | Obedient plant | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Scutellaria | Skullcap | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Thymus vulgaris | Garden thyme | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Oenothera fruticosa | Sundrops | Onagraceae (Willowherbs) |
| Paeonia lactiflora | Chinese peony | Paeoniaceae (Peonies) |
| Panicum virgatum | Switchgrass, Panic grasses, Thatchgrass, Wild Redtop | Poaceae (Grasses) |
| Schizachyrium scoparium | Little bluestem, Beard grass | Poaceae (Grasses) |
| Phlox paniculata | Garden phlox | Polemoniaceae (Phox) |
| Actaea racemosa | Black cohosh, bugbane | Ranunculaceae (Buttercups) |
| Clematis virginiana | Wild clematis, Devil's darning needles | Ranunculaceae (Buttercups) |
| Thalictrum dasycarpum | Meadow rue | Ranunculaceae (Buttercups) |
| Dasiphora fruticosa | Potentilla, shrubby cinquefoil | Rosaceae (Roses) |
| Fragaria virginiana | Wild strawberry | Rosaceae (Roses) |
| Geum triflorum | Prairie smoke | Rosaceae (Roses) |
| Rosa blanda | Smooth rose | Rosaceae (Roses) |
| Waldsteinia fragaroides | Barren strawberry | Rosaceae (Roses) |
| Scientific name | Common names | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Allium cernuum | Nodding onion | Amaryllidaceae (Amaryllis) |
| Asclepias syriaca | Common milkweed | Apocynaceae (Dogbanes) |
| Maianthemum racemosum | False solomon's seal | Asparagaceae (Asparagus) |
| Polygonatum biflorum | Solomon's seal | Asparagaceae (Asparagus) |
| Achillea millefolium | Common yarrow | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Eutrochium maculatum | Spotted joe-pye weed | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Helenium autumnale | Common sneezeweed | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Heliopsis helianthoides | False sunflower, Rough oxeye, Smooth oxeye | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Rudbeckia fulgida | Orange coneflower, Black-eyed susan | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Rudbeckia hirta | Black-eyed susan | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Solidago canadensis | Canada goldenrod | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Solidago rigida | Stiff goldenrod | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | New England aster | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Mertensia virginica | Virginia bluebells | Boraginaceae (Borages) |
| Campanula rotundifolia | Harebell, Bluebell | Campanulaceae (Bellflowers) |
| Symphoricarpos albus | Common snowberry | Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckles) |
| Tradescantia virginiana | Virginia spiderwort | Commelinaceae (Spiderworts) |
| Juniperus horizontalis | Creeping juniper | Cupressaceae (Cypress) |
| Arctostaphlos uva-ursi | Massachusetts bearberry | Ericaceae (Heaths) |
| Baptisia australis | Blue false indigo, Blue wild indigo | Fabaceae (Legume) |
| Lupinus perennis | Sundial lupine, wild lupine | Fabaceae (Legume) |
| Geranium cinereum | Ashy cranesbill | Geraniaceae (Geraniums) |
| Geranium maculatum | Wild cranesbill | Geraniaceae (Geraniums) |
| Hypericum kalmianum | Kalm’s St. Johns wort | Hypericaceae (St. John's Wort) |
| Agastache foeniculum | Anise hyssop | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Monarda fistulosa | Wild bergamot | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Pycnanthemum incanum | Hoary mountain mint | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Thymus serpyllum | Creeping thyme, Breckland thyme, Wild thyme | Lamiaceae (Mint) |
| Oenothera biennis | Common evening-primrose | Onagraceae (Willowherbs) |
| Anemone canadensis | Canada anemone | Ranunculaceae (Buttercups) |
| Clematis 'Jackmanii' | Late large-flowered clematis | Ranunculaceae (Buttercups) |
| Amelanchier canadensis | Serviceberry | Rosaceae (Roses) |
| Potentilla arguta | Tall cinquefoil | Rosaceae (Roses) |
| Heuchera villosa | Hairy alumroot | Saxifragaceae (Saxifrages) |
| Chelone glabra | White turtlehead | Scrophulariaceae (Figworts) |
| Chelone obliqua | Pink turtlehead, Red turtlehead | Scrophulariaceae (Figworts) |
| Penstemon hirsutus | Hairy beardtongue | Scrophulariaceae (Figworts) |
| Scrophularia sp. | Figwort | Scrophulariaceae (Figworts) |
| Scientific name | Common names | Family |
|---|---|---|
| Asarum canadense | Canada wild ginger, Canadian snakeroot, Broad-leaved asarabacca | Aristolochiaceae (Birthworts) |
| Polygonatum biflorum | Solomon's seal | Asparagaceae (Asparagus) |
| Echinacea purpurea | Purple coneflower | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Eurybia divaricata | White wood aster | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Solidago flexicaulis | Broadleaved goldenrod, Zigzag goldenrod | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | New England aster | Asteraceae (Daisies) |
| Epimedium x rubrum | Red barrenwort | Berberidaceae (Barberry) |
| Lobelia siphilitica | Blue cardinal flower, Great blue lobelia | Campanulaceae (Bellflowers) |
| Diervilla lonicera | Northern bush honeysuckle | Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckles) |
| Symphoricarpos albus | Common snowberry | Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckles) |
| Cornus alba 'Elegantissima' | Elegantissima Dogwood | Cornaceae (Dogwoods) |
| Matteuccia struthiopteris | Ostrich fern | Onocleaceae (Terrestrial Ferns) |
| Paeonia lactiflora | Chinese peony | Paeoniaceae (Peonies) |
| Sanguinaria canadensis | Bloodroot | Papaveraceae (Poppies) |
| Phlox stolonifera | Creeping phlox | Polemoniaceae (Phox) |
| Aquilegia canadensis | Canada columbine, Eastern red columbine, Wild columbine | Ranunculaceae (Buttercups) |
| Rubus odoratus | Flowering raspberry, Purple-flowered raspberry, Virginia raspberry | Rosaceae (Roses) |
| Tiarella cordifolia | Heartleaf foamflower, False miterwort | Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage) |
| Penstemon hirsutus | Hairy beardtongue | Scrophulariaceae (Figworts) |
| Viola labradorica | American dog violet, Labrador violet | Violaceae (Violets) |
WHAT'S ON IN THE GARDEN
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