The Animal Shelter Garden

[Catherine]

Every so often I mention that I am doing a garden for the Toronto Humane Society. I started three years ago and it has come a long way. Here are some photos so you can see how it has progressed.


You can see that the roses I planted have done very well. If I had known they would all survive I wouldn't have put them so close together.

You can't see it, but there is baby milkweed in the seemingly empty spaces. There are a number of mature milkweed plants so I am ready if the Monarch Butterflies arrive.

There are still many things I want to do, but there is lots of colour and variation. I even have a few things that will stay green all winter. I want the garden to look interesting all year long.

This is the "rooftop" garden. I have been asked if I can take it over as well.(I thought they would never ask.) When they built the cat section of the shelter on the "roof" they left a courtyard so cats could safely go outside. They moved all the cats upstairs so they are away from the clinic and the dogs and the noise of the streets. People who want cats go upstairs and see them in a calm setting.

There are big planted containers on the rooftop. The windows are the cat area. The cats get natural light and they can see outside.

Those are strawberries around the tree. The shelter animals can eat fresh strawberries all summer long.

There is not much planted in these containers yet, just a little parsley. I have cleaned them up and brought some mint for one container. It makes the area fragrant. We need to get some veggies growing and more herbs. I am going to enjoy this garden. It is completely different and it gets good sun. Maybe I should plant some sun flowers. I will keep you posted.