Clean Ayr Project

04/23/2026

This rare butterfly has been seen in town by a local resident Krista Vivian 😀. Below is the information she shared.

"Hello ! Happy Earth Day. Just wanted to share for those with tiny future entomologists on their hands there is something new in town. This is the Karner Blue butterfly. It was believed extinct, and wiped out of this area but has recently been shifted status to endangered... I have seen this species 3 times along the walking trail to jedburg dam and from the school side down towards the ducks and a few times in our own backyard ... so that being said I think you have a good chance of seeing them yourself on that trail. They are very small about the size of a common "cabbage white" butterfly but the wings are more narrow and less rounded - it really stands out as something you haven't seen before . Anyways , I'm oddly into insects and thought that those who are mildly into them may want to experience something really cool too.. their larva exclusively feed on lupine (specially wild varieties) so if you have some in your garden keep an eye out. Also if you would like some seeds to start your own for next year please send me a PM if you do see one for yourself please make report there are links and more information about them on the government website linked here

https://www.ontario.ca/page/karner-blue

This is my own picture from video. If you do see one or their catapillars please do not try to help , capture, touch or interact with them in any way besides your eyes and camera ."

We are happy to share that the native wild lupine is one of the plants available on Saturday 😊

04/19/2026

I am not a w**d. I am not invasive. I am not ruining your lawn.

That low green carpet spreading between your grass blades. The tiny white flowers you've been mowing off for years. The patch your neighbor sprays every spring.

I am white clover. And your lawn isn't losing a battle. It's being fed for free.

White clover is a legume. My roots host bacteria in small nodules that pull nitrogen from the air and convert it into a form grass roots can absorb. I fertilize the lawn I'm growing in. The nitrogen I provide releases slowly and doesn't wash into storm drains the way synthetic fertilizer can.

Until the late 1950s, clover was a standard ingredient in American lawn seed mixes. It was sold as a feature. The plant didn't change. The expectations did.

I stay green through summer drought when grass goes brown. My roots reach deeper than most turf grasses, finding water they can't access. A lawn with clover mixed through it holds color in dry stretches without extra watering.

I flower for several weeks in late spring and early summer, and those flowers support honey bees, bumble bees, and native solitary bees during the window when other nectar sources are thinnest. A lawn with clover feeds pollinators without the homeowner doing anything except letting it bloom.

I'm not taking over. Clover fills the thin spots, the compacted zones, the shady edges where grass struggles. Where grass is thick, I stay minor. The patches you see are a map of where the soil needs help — and I'm the repair, not the invasion.

🌿 What to do about clover in your lawn:

- Nothing. Leave it. A lawn with clover mixed in is greener, more drought-resistant, and cheaper to maintain than pure grass

- If you're overseeding bare patches, add micro-clover or Dutch white clover seed to the grass mix — it fills in faster than grass alone and protects the soil while seedlings establish

- Raise your mower blade to three inches or higher. Clover handles this well, and taller grass shades out the w**ds you actually don't want

- Skip broadleaf herbicide on a clover lawn — it removes the clover, leaves bare soil, and bare soil is what crabgrass moves into next

- If bees visiting the flowers concern anyone walking barefoot, mow a path through the clover section before you walk it — the flowers regrow within a week

The lawn you're trying to build with fertilizer and chemicals is the one clover gives you for free 🌿

04/14/2026

that April is ?

Join us to watch two short films about climate change and the wonderful planet that we call home, followed by discussion. Light refreshments will be provided.

📅April 16 at 6 p.m.
📍Ayr Branch
🟢Designed for ages 18+

Register: https://ow.ly/T46F50YBMgT

04/13/2026

We are so happy to have the Ayr - North Dumfries Lions Club back with us again during the Earth Day event! It's a great opportunity to do some spring decluttering, help keep items from the landfill and support one of our local groups.

04/09/2026

Just over two weeks away!
This year we welcome Alexandra's Farm at our Earth Day Event. She will be there with vegetable and flower gardening advice as well as information on local grown food. Perfect timing for those interested in growing and sourcing healthy local food options 🥕🫛🥦

04/05/2026

04/03/2026

What’s Happening This Weekend in Our Community! 🐣🌷

Looking for some family fun this Saturday?

We’ve got you covered with some community events happening locally !

✨ Saturday, April 4 ✨

🥞🐰 Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt & Pancake Breakfast
Hosted by the Kiwanis Club of North Dumfries
🕘 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 NDCC
Join in for a morning full of tasty pancakes and Easter fun!

📚🎶 Story Time & Crafts at Music & Books
🕤 9:45 AM
📍 80 Stanley Street
Free, fun, and perfect for little learners—come enjoy stories and creative crafts!

🐣🐑 Easter Event at Moore’s Farm
🕙 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Enjoy live animals, an Easter egg hunt, and photo opportunities 📸
🥫Donations of a non-perishable food item are welcomed and will be donated to It Takes A Village Ayr

It’s a wonderful weekend to get out, explore, and make special memories together!

Ayr Early Learning Centre

02/13/2026

RWL is thrilled to be partnering with Neighborhood Forest as part of our Earth Day celebrations! This program provides FREE trees to children, to inspire youth environmentalism and help make our communities green!

Register by March 15
Pick up begins April 20

Register: https://ow.ly/wMzs50YcMVc

07/24/2025

Just taking a moment to celebrate the beauty of downtown Ayr, here in North Dumfries!

We’ve said it before, but it’s worth repeating: we’re so grateful to Patrick and Linda MacNeil for their generous gift that brought these fountains to Watson Pond. These fountains add another beautiful touch to downtown Ayr, making the community even more picturesque and welcoming.

This thoughtful act is a reminder of how lucky we are to live in North Dumfries, a small community with a big heart. Let’s keep that spirit alive by:

• Supporting our local businesses whenever we can
• Joining events and programs that bring us together
• Sharing stories of why we love this community

07/24/2025

It looks to be a beautiful Saturday morning for a visit to our local Ayr Farmer's market. its a great opportunity to check out the new Region of Waterloo waste bins and ask about the new program.
Don't forget to visit the local shops downtown as well 🌞

Don't forget to make time for the market this Saturday!

PLEASE SHARE THE MARKET WITH YOUR FRIENDS!!!
LIKE/SHARE THE MARKET POSTS OR CREATE YOUR OWN!

This week from our artisan/small business vendors you'll find:
*fresh in season produce *fresh bread *gluten free baked goods *preserves/jams/jelly/honey *hot coffee/cold brew *donuts *italian soda *lemonade *stuffies *cleaning products *bath essentials *ROW new waste bins *leather bags/wallets/gifts *jewelry *keychains/trinkets/gifts *apparel *smoothies/smoothie bowls

For a larger photo, if you are having any trouble viewing it, please visit the website!
www.heretotheremarketevents.com/ayr-farmers-market

EVERYTHING YOU NEED, RIGHT DOWNTOWN!
SEE YOU SATURDAY!

We always welcome new vendors.
Farm/food vendors:
https://form.jotform.com/220645386024251
Artisan vendors:
https://form.jotform.com/220784684273262