Resources

Video Tutorial - How to Start Your Own Milkweed and Native Plant Butterfly Garden (Alberta)  -https://youtu.be/GhpzRo5qGhU

This 3-minute video will walk you through the steps of starting your own butterfly garden in Alberta. Here are some additional helpful resources and tips mentioned in this video: 

• Cold stratification: is the process of starting seeds through a cold period of moisture to mimic winter. This process allows for germination of many native plants, including milkweeds. In the video, we demonstrate the long stratification method. After the seeds were folded into the paper towel and placed in a bag, they were put in the frigde for 4-6 weeks. Then, they were planted into small pots with lids to help keep moisture in, so the seeds would not dry out while establishing. After the sprouts were too big for their small pots, they were transplanted outside.

• Check out the resource provided by Northern Wildflowers on methods for cold stratification: https://northernwildflowers.ca/pages/learn-more

• Learn more about native plants (Edmonton Area) at the Edmonton Native Plant Society - https://www.enps.ca/

• Learn more about native plants (Alberta) at the Alberta Native Plant Council Website - https://anpc.ab.ca/