Macphail Woods Nature Trails
Native Plant Garden Trail

Native Plant Garden Trail
The main focus of Macphail Woods is to teach people about the beauty and values of native plants and how these plants fit into restoration of forests. Just to the east of the Macphail Home, you'll see our native tree and shrub nursery. While we do sell plants from the nursery, it is equally important as an educational tool for teaching tree and shrub identification and the concepts of forest restoration.

Forest scene at the Macphail Woods.

The native plant garden, situated under the old apple orchard, was started in 1992 to showcase trees and shrubs that can be used in a variety of settings - backyards, windbreaks, stream banks and forests. Due to extensive agricultural clearing over the past two hundred years, most Island forests are lacking in diversity. Trees are generally young and often have grown up on abandoned farmland. Many woodland plants are quite rare, and so we are learning how to bring back these plants.

Red-berried elder.

When walking around the Homestead, it is interesting to think about diversity. How many different types of plants can you see? Are there a variety of ages of trees, from tiny seedlings to towering giants, and dead trees as well? Can you find or see signs of a mix of wildlife species? Diverse ecosystems tend to be healthier than simplified systems and offer a wider range of benefits, from providing habitat for wildlife to protecting groundwater.

Witch hazel leaf.

Some of the plants you'll see in these display beds are quite common in the province. The wild roses, willows, bayberry and red-berried elder grow well in full sun and can be found in many places, yet are rarely used in landscaping. The less common beaked hazelnut, witch hazel, highbush cranberry, alternate-leaf dogwood and sweet fern are equally attractive and can be used in many types of plantings. An assortment of shrubs provides an endless succession of leaves, flowers, seeds, buds, colours and shapes - visual reminders of the complexity of natural systems.

We hope visitors will appreciate the beauty of these shrubs and the native ferns and wildflowers that also grow in the beds. By using native plants, you can help provide seed sources for many species that are no longer present over much of the Island.

In 1997, we began work on the Macphail Arboretum, clearing a small patch near the Native Plant Garden. The few healthy native plants were saved and we have started replanting the area with a mixture of trees and shrubs. These plantings will be signed and become another important piece in our educational efforts.

Next: The Wildflower Trail

The following series of Webpages is based on the Brochure "Trails of the Sir Andrew Macphail Homestead" written by Gary Schneider.

If your interested in receiving a hardcopy of this booklet, please see our publications page. We offer a number of workshops and guided tours at the Macphail Woods and it is an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Macphail Homestead, the Woods, and it's inhabitants. Check out the Events Calendar for more information.. Web development and maintenance by Chris Martin.