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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 26/04/2026

So proud of the work we are doing to naturalize our city! A few pics of my gardens this morning.

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

As MacIvor and Irwin state in their 2025 paper, "The unregulated online trade of solitary bee cocoons (...), poses growing risks to biodiversity. (…) Such introductions can displace native bees and spread parasites and pathogens, undermining the stability of wild bees." #bees shorturl.at/rsyjZ

shorturl.at

Don’t Buy Those Baby Bees

Our monthly newsletter has tips and guides to New England's biodiversity, science and conservation news, upcoming events, and volunteer opportunities.

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Huge thanks to the Ottawa Field Naturalist Club for giving the Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library their annual conservation award. We could not be more thrilled to partner with this fantastic organization.

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Our free online native seed shop is closing soon! 🌱 We’ve still got 60+ species available, including grasses, sedges, goldenrods, asters, and many more. Browse the shop and place your orders by Friday, Jan. 23 at 11:59pm ET. wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/shop/ #nativeplants #nativeseeds #gardening

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 15/01/2026

We still have dozens of native species 🌱 available in our online shop, including these beauties! Orders are free, though donations are warmly welcomed. We’ll mail seeds to ON, QC, NB, and NS. Browse the shop and place your orders at wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/shop #nativeseeds #nativeplants

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Get FREE native seeds from the Seed Library! We mail to ON, QC, NB and NS. Order now here: wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/shop/

wildflowerseedlibrary.ca

Shop – Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

💚You showed up. You gave. Now we grow. Thanks to your support this #GivingTuesday, we’ll be able to share thousands more free native seeds. Let’s keep native plants blooming in our city. 🌼 With gratitude, The Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library #ThankYou #NativePlants #NativeSeeds #gardening

Photo collage in the shape of a heart. Photos feature Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library volunteers, seed packets, and native plants. Words at the center of the heart say Thank You, you helped seeds take root.

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 02/12/2025

🌱 It’s #GivingTuesday. 🌱 Your $5 supports the seed library to fulfill one seed order, and shares up to 50 #NativePlants. Last year, we filled 5,000 orders together. Will you help us fill 10,000 this year? Today’s the day. Your donation makes it happen: wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/donations/do...

Photo of insects on a native plant. The text says it’s giving Tuesday. Let’s keep native seeds growing.

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

One seed packet at a time, we’re building habitat and bringing back biodiversity. 🐝🌱 But we can’t do it without support. 🗓️ Giving Tuesday is Dec. 2. Help us keep native seeds free and ecosystems thriving. #NativePlants #NativeSeeds #GivingTuesday #gardening #ottawa

Before and after photos of bare garden beds, transformed into native flower gardens. Text says Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library. Help seeds take root. Giving Tuesday, December 2.

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Join us tomorrow, Saturday, November 15, 2025 at the Jim Durrell Recreation Centre (Alta Vista) from 1-3 pm to get as many free native seeds as you want! More information here: wildflowerseedlibrary.ca/events/

wildflowerseedlibrary.ca

Events: Seed giveaways – Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

🌼 This year, we’ve seen native gardens bloom, rare plants thrive, and pollinators return. All thanks to YOU and the power of native seeds. Giving Tuesday is coming (Dec 2). Let’s keep free native seeds growing in Ottawa. #GivingTuesday #NativePlants #wildflowers #SeedLibrary

Picture collage of native flowers in bloom, seed packets, and volunteers packing seeds. The text says Coming Soon Giving Tuesday Help Seeds Take Root.

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

We will bring spring seeds to our June 28 event for you to pick and sow promptly! You can drop off seed donations at any of our events. Thanks! #seeds #ottawa #free

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Don’t have time to monitor all your seed pods? Put organza bags around them! No need to check on them daily anymore. #diy #tips #seedsaving

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Virginia’s Waterleaf is in bloom! Its a good short option for a shade garden. Bumble bees love it! #nativeplants #areyoureadytobumble #bumblebees

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

My favourite fleabane is in bloom! Philadelphia Fleabane! It’s a host plant and it feeds tiny bees and flies. Different bloom sizes feed different beings so it’s a good idea to have a variety at different times of year. #nativeplants #bees #savethebees

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Meet the Board and learn about what we are working on during our upcoming open doors! Register here: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi... #seeds #seedlibrary #opendoors

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

The Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library has a newsletter now! Register to know what is going on and what events are coming up! #seedlibrary #freeseeds #nativeplants bloomandbuzz.substack.com/p/the-bloom-...

bloomandbuzz.substack.com

The Bloom & Buzz Newsletter

May 2025, 1st Edition

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

This Polyphemus moth did not have much time to herself! She is hanging on to the cocoon she left 24 hours ago! Already mating! #moth #butterfly #leavetheleaves #nativeplants #gardening

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 29/05/2025

I was visited by a Polyphemus moth! Leaving the leaves works! She was hidden in a pile of leaves and I hung her up. #leavetheleaves #moth #butterfly #nativeplants

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Blue Bottle Gentian's blooms can only be opened by bumblebees. #nativeplants #plants #gardening

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Geranium maculatum is a great native alternative to the non-native geranium. It remains short, blooms in shade at this time of year. What is not to love! #nativeplants #plants #gardening #garden

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Sweet Joe Pye Weed is an excellence choice for shaded areas. I am growing mine in very very dry shade and it's happy. It's a tough plant that is loved by bees and butterflies. It also add a touch of pink to your shade area. #nativeplants #plants #gardening #butterflies #bees

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

Yes, we have a native hibiscus! It's called Swamp Rose Mallow and we will be giving free seeds to grow this beauty in the fall. #seeds #nativeplants #gardening

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 21/05/2025

False sunflower is well loved by bees in the fall; their shape acts as a helipad! They are also the host plant of a red aphid that you might encounter on them. They start blooming in June and stop at frost. What is not to love! #nativeplants #gardening #seeds #fallbeauty

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Love the shape of Red Columbine! It is also well loved by hummingbirds. #gardening #plantitandtheywillcome

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

My buddy is back! I have a Robin that follows me to the garden, and then once I am out, goes to where I gardened to pick some insects or in this case some mud. I had just transplanted some black eyed susan’s so I exposed the soil from the leaves. #birds #nativeplants #gardening

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Grass-leaved goldenrod is not the most showy plant but it is loved by bees. It spreads tightly through rhizomes (roots) so I think it would be good to add to a sunny garden that is seeking to suppress the reappearance of invasives. #nativeplants #garden #plants

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

While Common Boneset prefers wet feet, I have seen it grow in a rocky, dry area. It's loved by bees and is a host plant for the Boneset Borer Moth and the Clymene Moth. #nativeplants #garden #gardening

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 20/04/2025

Tussock cottongrass is a beautiful sedge that gets about 2 feet tall. It is a host plant for the Jutta Arctic butterfly. The look of it makes an area look whimsical. #nativeplants #plants #gardening #garden

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

Northern Willowherb is not a showy plant but it is a host plant for several moths and butterflies including the Mourning Cloak, Hawk Moth, and the White Admiral. It is a pioneer plant that will establish itself where the soil is disturbed. #nativeplants #gardening #plants

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Flat top white aster is a lovely fall blooming option. It is loved by bees. Here are some pictures I took at the Fletcher's Wildlife Garden. #nativeplants #gardening #plants

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Dutchman's breeches is another, short spring beauty., here pictured growing in the wild in our region. I find that they are a good native alternative to non-native bleeding hearts. #nativeplants #gardening #

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

The shape of Straw-coloured flatsedge reminds me of a wedding bouquet. They like to have wet feet if possible. I have mowed them by mistake and they keep growing! Picture by Donna Bos. #nativeplants #plants #gardening #garden

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Canada Honewort is not the most showy plant, but it is a host plant for the Swallowtail butterfly. It is also short, blooms early and stays put. I grown my plants right on the edge of my property and they do not spread onto my neighbours' side. Photo by Donna Bos #nativeplants #gardening #plant

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Tall coreopsis is one of our native alternative options for sunflowers. Here it is growing alongside the Fletcher's Wildlife Garden's building. #nativeplant #gardening #garden

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Sweet fern is a short, plant that provides an exotic look to a garden. They can be used for nesting. Flowers have male (brown) and female catkins (yellow-green). They can be used to stabilize slopes. Photo by Donna Bos #gardening #nativeplants #plants

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

Wild basil is a short groundcover that does fill a space in a lot of gardens (for some reason not in mine). They work well in a shade or part shade spot. They get visits from tiny flies and bees. I use it as a filler between plants. #plants #nativeplants #gardening #garden

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Eastern Spring-Beauty is a delicate, short plant that blooms in the spring. Here are some pictures I took in the wild in our region. #nativeplants #gardening #plants #flowers #spring

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

Richardson and his colleagues* have come up with yet another function for nectar's chemicals: as medicine for [bees]. They found compounds in the nectar cut the numbers of a common gut parasite in bumblebees by as much as 80 percent." www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/epis... #plants #bees

scientificamerican.com

Where the Wild Bees Are: Documenting a Loss of Native Bee Species between the 1800s and 2010s

Croplands and climate change displace native bees

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Any fans of blue flowers? Check this one out: Tall Bellflower. The bees love those blooms. It is annual or biennial so you need to sow seeds every year to get plants. Photos by Donna Bos. #nativeplant #gardening #plant

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 13/04/2025

Hairy wood mint is a recent discovery for me. Not only is it short, it brings a pop of colour in my shade area. They tolerate shade and blooms for months! The bees love them! #nativeplants #gardening #garden

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Ottawa Wildflower Seed Library @ottawaseed.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Canada Milkvetch is a nitrogen fixer that complements plants well in a garden. I use it to brush strokes of vertical white in my garden. You can see it amongst my black eyed susan's and swamp milkweed. Pictures by Donna Bos #plants #gardening #garden #nativeplants

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