Several years ago a native healing garden was planted on the grounds of the Godfrey Dean Cultural Centre.
In the ensuing years the garden became over run with weeds.
This summer the Godfrey Dean Gallery decided it was time to rejuvenate the garden, and they contacted local wild plant hobbyists Joan Wilson and Paula Maier.
"The gallery wanted to address some of the issues happening in the native healing garden which was started several years ago," said Wilson. "Paula and I are interested in native plants and they asked us if we go in there and clean it up a bit."
"It had gone weedy," added Maier. "It was planted as a healing garden and was not really cared for the way it should have been."
The women explained the garden had been invaded by grasses, and when they had rooted that out they had a large chunk of bare black soil, so they undertook to replant the area.
"We worked with what was there, then introduced some plants that were available to us," said Wilson.
The new plants however did change the garden from a healing garden, one where the plants all had natural healing properties used by native peoples in the past, to a garden of native plants.
Maier said not all the plants replanted are medicinal in nature, but added spending time in any garden is usually good for a person.
In terms of adding plants, the women noted they didn't just go out and dig up wild plants, which Wilson said is generally "not a good idea."
So they focused on wild plants they could harvest from their yards, and an area destined to be a road.Maier also contributed several varieties to the garden.
"I start native plants from seed I collect," she explained.
Nora Stewart, author of Cultivating Our Roots: Growing Authentic Prairie Wildflowers and Grasses, also provided some seed grown crocuses, said Wilson.
The garden now contains some 15-to-20 varieties of plants, and the women said they may add to it in future years, as both are dedicated to maintaining the garden in the new year.
"We'll add some plants as they become available to us," said Maier.
The garden has also been documented on film, a 16-minute production which was officially launched Sunday, and will play in the Godfrey Dean Cultural Centre lobby for people visiting the garden.
Maier explained the film was done through a gallery program over the summer.
"There was a summer student here and Don (gallery manager Don Stein) wanted documentation of the plants," she said. "He's thinking to the future if somebody else takes over they have an idea of what's growing in there."
The film is something the two said they weren't expecting, but they like the result since it provides information on the plants.
"It was just a surprise. It's not what's expected when you're asked to help clean up a garden," said Wilson.
