Everything went just right this weekend as Friends of the Coves and Elmwood Presbyterian Church joined forces to create a little piece of nature on the front lawn of 111 Elmwood Avenue.

Woodlawn Garden is a chemical-free native plant garden that is both beautiful and easy to maintain. Many people view native plant gardens as messy and/or weedy, but we want to show the greater London community that you can still have a landscaped garden using native plants. All are welcome to drop by anytime and take a walk through the garden.

This project was made possible thanks to the City of London, Ontario Trillium Foundation, and Environment Canada.

Check out the London Free Press Article:

Natural gardens catching on with environmentalists

By VERA OVANIN, SUN MEDIA

Forget the manicured lawns -- shrubs and weeds are the hot new gardening craze.

With the environment gaining profile, the natural look is becoming hot in landscaping.

Catching the growing trend is the Elmwood Presbyterian Church in London, which yesterday dedicated its

ecologically friendly garden designed by a local environmental group.

"What we're trying to do is show people that they can still have a beautiful garden without pesticides and

fertilizers and that native plants can also provide food and habitat for wild life," said Vanessa Kinsley, a project

manager for the Friends of the Coves.

The group works to protect and rehabilitate the city's Thames River coves and rents an office in the church.

The garden, sponsored by the city and Trillium Foundation, comes as London gets ready for a bylaw next year

that'll restrict pesticide use, banning it for cosmetic purposes.

"This event is part of our green initiative, encouraging everyone to plant trees and shrubs," said London West

MPP Chris Bentley, among about 50 people at yesterday's event at the Old South church.

Kinsley said residents can help the environment by growing native plants such as the butterfly milkweed that

don't need any chemicals to grow.

"Many people think that the natural, pesticide-free gardens are messy," said Kinsley.

"But we want to show the community that you can still have landscaped gardens using native plants."