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Native plant lovers starting up group for Monteith garden

Oak Bay's community allotment garden contains a section for indigenous plants
Friends of Monteith Indigenous Plants Assoc
Gerald Harris clears invasive plants from around a native swordfern in the indigenous plant section of the community allotment garden on Monteith Street.

Last winter Gerald Harris and other volunteers helped dig in a native plant garden at the southeast corner of the Monteith Street community allotment garden.

But during the process, Harris realized something else was needed.

“We needed a long-term group, people to develop and maintain it,” he said. Harris, who lives in Victoria, teamed up with Oak Bay resident Thor Henrich to look after the garden. Twice a month the duo meet for an afternoon to weed and hoe around indigenous plants such as snowberry, Nootka rose, swordfern, grasses and salmonberry. “And then after we might have a cider,” Harris said.

The two are looking for other volunteers to help care for the garden on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, starting Oct. 12, from 1 to 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served. For more information contact Harris at 250-370-0190 or Henrich at 250-592-2597.

vmoreau@oakbaynews.com