Smiths Falls Horticultural Society

06/15/2026

06/15/2026

8 Wild Plants That Are Secretly Helping Your Garden

1️⃣ Sweet Violet
A beautiful little flower that serves as an essential host plant for several butterfly species.

2️⃣ Dandelion
One of the earliest and most reliable nectar sources when few other flowers are blooming.

3️⃣ Clover
Feeds bees for months while naturally enriching the soil with nitrogen.

4️⃣ Chickweed
Blooms early, providing valuable food for pollinators emerging from winter.

5️⃣ Wood Sorrel
Its delicate leaves and flowers support insects throughout the growing season.

6️⃣ Selfheal
Those tiny purple flowers in the lawn are a favorite stop for hardworking bumblebees.

7️⃣ Greater Plantain
Often overlooked, yet it has a long history of traditional use and supports local wildlife.

8️⃣ Herb Robert
A shade-loving wildflower that offers nectar to early pollinators and brightens forgotten corners.

A lot of gardeners see these plants and immediately think "weeds"

Meanwhile, bees, butterflies, and countless other creatures see them as food, shelter, and survival.

Sometimes the most valuable plants are the ones nobody planted.

06/03/2026

05/24/2026

Seed saving converts a one-time seed purchase into a permanent free supply. Every open-pollinated or heirloom vegetable produces seeds you can save, dry, and replant indefinitely.

Tomatoes — the most rewarding seed to save. Scoop seeds from a fully ripe tomato into a glass of water. Let them ferment at room temperature for 3 days. The viable seeds sink; non-viable seeds float. Rinse the sinkers, spread on a paper towel, and let dry for 2 weeks.

Beans — the simplest. Let one or two pods stay on the plant until they are papery and completely dry. Shell them, let the seeds dry another week indoors, and store.

Zucchini — deliberately let one fruit grow past the eating stage until it is enormous and yellow. The seeds inside are fully mature. Scoop, rinse, and dry for 2 weeks.

Pumpkin and squash seeds last the longest in storage — up to 6 years when kept cool, dark, and dry.

All saved seeds should be stored in paper envelopes — not plastic — in a cool dark location. Label with the variety and the year. 🌱

05/24/2026

Add a little dill to your planting plans!

05/24/2026

🌾 9 Native Plants That Thrive in Poor Soil
No rich soil? No problem—these tough natives grow strong in dry, rocky, and low-fertility conditions 🌿✨
• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – A pollinator favorite, loved by bees and butterflies
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – Bright, resilient, and blooms for a long time
• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – Hardy and drought-tolerant with delicate clusters
• Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella) – Handles heat and sandy soil with ease
• Butterfly W**d (Asclepias tuberosa) – Vital for monarch butterflies
• Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) – Naturally improves soil health
• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) – A striking native grass with seasonal color
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) – Fragrant and perfect for pollinators
• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) – Late-summer blooms that support bees
🌿 Ideal for Zones 4–9, these plants prove that even the toughest soils can grow something beautiful!

05/13/2026

"I wish I had never planted the stupid thing!" There are some plants that simply aren't worth the trouble. Here are 9 common plants you DON'T want to plant in your backyard...