Exciting Updates....
The Plan has been delivered!
Marielle Court Boulevard Beautification Update
Step 1 : Complete Garden Prep Day took place on June 6th. Thank you to those who came out! The boulevard garden now been cleared of all unwanted plants, and some plants have been set aside for replanting.
Step 2 : In Progress Now that the invasive plants have been removed, we will wait a few weeks to see if any baby plants attempt to regrow and we will remove them. Weeding will be an ongoing process.
Step 3 : Upcoming Once we know that the boulevard garden is cleared of unwanted plants, we will be covering the ground with wood chip mulch. The mulch will help reduce the number of weeds that will want to grow in our bare soil.
Step 4 : Upcoming As summer progresses, it will be too hot to plant tiny seedlings. The boulevard garden island will remain mostly bare this summer. We have approximately 4 types of fully grown plants that we will be planting in the coming weeks, alongside some colourful annuals.
Step 5 : In Progress We will continue to grow seedlings and source plants for purchase in preparation for a fall planting.
Step 6 : Upcoming Once the summer heat has passed, we will plant the more mature seedlings alongside the purchased plants. We could use your help! Let us know if you're interested in participating in the fall planting.
What about the plants?
All plants are perennials, which means they will return year after year. All plants are salt tolerant because the City of Ottawa piles snow on the boulevard garden through the winter months. All plants are drought tolerant so we don't ask our neighbours to pay bill for watering the plants. Plants are non-invasive as that is disallowed by the City of Ottawa. Many plants are from the Ottawa area and support biodiversity, something which is also encouraged by the City of Ottawa.
What's the plan?
Allium Landscape Design has created a Garden Mood Board. Each picture shows what will be blooming at different times through the year.
Allium Landscape Design has also mapped the locations of the plants in both image and video format.
How is this happening?
We are growing, sharing and purchasing around 200 plants for the boulevard garden. As we are growing some of these species ourselves, please feel free to come and ask us about them!
Allium Landscape Design was contracted to build a plan based on their experience with designing landscapes for a variety of growing conditions, including full sun, dry boulevard gardens like ours.
Volunteers have mapped the garden, removed unwanted plants, levelled terrain, sourced free mulch and plants, secured permits, communicated the plan, and administered the project. Volunteers will collect and spread mulch, plant seedlings and continue to keep the garden free of unwanted plants.
While some of the plants will be free and much of the work is provided by volunteers, some plants will need to be purchased and Allium Landscape Design is fee for service. As of June 14th, generous neighbours have contributed a total of $320. Please consider donating to help further our progress.
How can I donate?
First of all, thank you to our neighbours who have donated already. We hope you enjoy watching your seeds grow!
Email money transfer: mariellecourton@gmail.com
In person: Connect with Erin Kelly at Unit 13
Accountability: Funds are being tracked by the Beautification Team Finance Manager. A report will be shared with Marielle Court residents after autumn planting.
Your Marielle Court Boulevard Beautification Team thanks you for your support: moral, financial and in physical labour! 🙏 🙏 🙏
Cul-de-sac Garden
How’s that Caribbean island dream going?
No worries: You can have your own dream island right here on Marielle Court! Four of your fellow Courters have united to beautify our island boulevard garden.
We have engaged a local landscaping company with experience planning naturalized gardens, to provide both a landscape and a planting design. The goal is to create an entryway to Marielle Court that uplifts Court residents, adds to property desirability, is drought- and salt-resistant, and requires minimal maintenance. The Court Group of Four are working away to obtain municipal approval and clear the existing ground cover.
Do you want to help? There will be 3 opportunities to move the project ahead:
June 6 - Completion of weeding, leveling
Date 2 TBD - Mulch distribution
Date 3 TBD - Fall planting
If you would prefer to contribute financially, we are accepting donations which will determine the scope of the project we can undertake. Funds will support the purchase of plants, the development of the plan, initial cleanup, and ongoing maintenance. Email money transfers can be sent to mariellecourton@gmail.com. Alternatively, cash can be dropped off at unit 13. An accounting of funds received and funds spent will be available on the website, roserickardrealtor.ca/communityprojects, or upon request. With 48 units on the Court, together we can make this Marielle Court Island Dream come true!
The garden design will be finalized soon and we will have identified a range of plants that we may already have on the street. Once identified, we will post the list on the gardening project’s webpage.
For more information on the multi-year project timeline and updates on developments, check back!
Thank you for helping to make Marielle Court an even better place to live!
Our team
Cynthia Balaberda
Rose Rickard
Barry McGuire
Erin Kelly
