In this month’s newsletter:
- Planting the Sanctuary for Butterflies and Pollinators at Dune 2
- Empty pop bottles with lids needed for watering
Planting the Sanctuary for Butterflies and Pollinators at Dune 2
By Berit Erickson
Since Pinhey Sand Dunes restoration efforts began in 2012, work focused on removing organic matter from the sand, manually shaping dune mounds, and weeding. Our next step has been to reintroduce native plants.
Butterfly Committee
Native plants support insect diversity by providing food and shelter. At Dune 2, we’re adding native plants that support pollinators and butterflies, in particular. Pollinators and butterflies, like the well-known and much-loved Monarch butterfly, appeal to the general public. People who visit because they’re interested in butterflies and pollinators, can also learn about dune insects and insect biodiversity while they’re here.
The Butterfly Committee formed to oversee the native plant reintroduction. On October 9, 2019, we held our first committee meeting to create the Sanctuary for Butterflies and Pollinators at Dune 2. The committee includes local entomologists, botanists, naturalists, as well as long-term volunteers.
Choosing native plant species
One committee member, botanist Paul Catling, studied sand dune remnants throughout Ontario, and has been involved in the Pinhey Sand Dunes restoration project from the beginning. For the Sanctuary, Catling provided a selective list of local native plants that grow in sandy habitats, and support butterflies: “Plants helpful to butterflies for planting as part of restoration of open sandy habitat”, Brenda Kostiuk and Paul Catling. This list gave us a great starting point for choosing appropriate plants.
For a more exhaustive list of plants found in local sand dune remnants, see the online research paper “Decline of two open Champlain Sea dune systems in Eastern Ontario and their characteristic and restricted plants and insects”, by Paul M. Catling, Henri Goulet, and Brenda Kostiuk, on the Canadian Field-Naturalist website.
At the Sanctuary for Butterflies and Pollinators, we’ve also added several out-of-range native plant species. Whether due to climate change or other factors, it is well-documented that insects are moving beyond their previous ranges. So, we’re including some southern native plant species for them.
For example, we’ve added Hop Trees to Dune 2, even though they naturally occur in southwestern Ontario. Hop Trees are a host plant for the Giant Swallowtail butterfly that has been seen in our region since 2012, at least. See Catling’s online article “Giants in Ottawa – Climate Warming or Not?” in the Ottawa Field Naturalists’ periodical Trail & Landscape, issue 55 (4), October-December 2021, pages 187-194.
Planting locations
We keep the dune peaks relatively free of vegetation, adding native plants in a low-lying, moist areas that aren’t suitable for tiger beetle burrowing.
We also concentrated planting along the rope and wire fence that marks public walking paths throughout the dune. This way, visitors can easily see the flowers and observe insects without disturbing the restoration zones. We also added informative plant labels near the fence to teach visitors about each native plant species, and its role in the dune ecosystem.
While plants help define the walking paths from the restoration area, they also form a physical barrier – a kind of living fence. We frequently find tracks from off-leash dogs, remote-controlled vehicles, and mountain bikes around the restoration areas. There are signs asking visitors to stay out of the restoration areas, as well as NCC signs prohibiting off-leash dogs. Whether some visitors don’t see the signs, or are wilfully disregarding them, we hope that plant barriers will help keep them out.
Planting the Sanctuary
In November 2019, we planted the first native plants at Dune 2: Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium), and New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-anglia) were transplanted from the nearby Hydro corridor. During the winter I grew several native plant species for spring planting in 2020 – just in time for the pandemic, but that’s another story.
Each year since then, we’ve added more native plants. TD Friends of the Environment has generously donated funds to buy plants. At first, we acquired most of them from southwestern Ontario sources. Now we are buying more from local native plant nurseries to get plants grown from local seed. I also continue to grow plants to donate. If you’re winter sowing native plants, consider donating some too (see suitable species in the list above).
As of 2024, the Butterfly Sanctuary plantings covered about 1% of Dune 2. Ultimately, our goal is to cover 10-15% of Dune 2 with native plants.
Volunteers
Each year, volunteers plant and care for hundreds of pollinator plants. Would you like to join us? At the Sanctuary for Butterflies and Pollinators, we’re looking for volunteers to help us:
- cut back plants in the spring,
- plant and water new seedlings,
- water plants during dry spells throughout the summer until they’re established,
- weed around native plants to reduce competition,
- transplant tiny seedlings into propagation trays for summer care by volunteer seedling-sitters,
- become a seedling-sitter by bringing propagation trays home to care for them for the summer,
- count butterflies and caterpillars for community science projects like the Montreal Insectarium’s Mission Monarch.
If you’re interested in volunteering, contact Berit Erickson at pinheyfriends@biodiversityconservancy.org.
Empty pop bottles with lids needed for watering
Watering seedlings at the dunes can be a time-consuming and tedious task. The sand surface becomes crusty and practically impermeable when dry, so water just runs off. We tried digging moats around plants, and watering in these trenches to avoid run-off; it still takes a long time for the water to absorb. Then, we have to go back and fill in the moats to prevent evaporation.
Last summer, a volunteer created 3D printed watering spikes that fit onto pop bottles. They worked like a charm. Water absorbed gradually, without any run-off, while we continued on with other tasks. This summer, we’d like to use the pop bottle spikes more widely, but we need pop bottles.
Do you have clear 1- or 2-litre pop bottles with lids heading to your recycling bin? Please consider donating them to us. (We need lids in case we have to fill the bottles at home and transport them to the dunes.) To donate pop bottles, drop them off at the dunes on one of our Sunday morning work sessions, beginning in May. To make other arrangements, contact Berit Erickson at pinheyfriends@biodiversityconservancy.org.