Welcome to Pollin' Gardens
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We are a small nursery specializing in growing plants native to Ontario. Our aim is to increase habitat for insects and birds one home garden at a time.
UPDATE- 2025
It is after much thought and deliberation that I have decided to not open Pollin' Gardens this spring. ​
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As some of you may know, my dear husband Neil was diagnosed with advanced liver cancer in 2023. He passed away in October 2024. Grief is exhausting and my energy needs to go towards my own and my family's healing at this point in time. In addition to Neil's loss, our barn recently collapsed from the snow and the property will be a big mess for a while!
While I can't promise anything, I hope to have some plants for sale this fall. Stay tuned.
Thank you for all your past support and I do look forward to seeing old and new friends in the future.
Brenda
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What's Available? Currently we are closed but you can click on the button below to see some of the plants that may be available in the fall of 2025​
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Our plants are grown from seed collected from native plants growing in our garden, on the wild spaces of our property.
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Our process is as ecologically responsible as possible. To that end, we sell our plants in our own potting soil mix that limits our use of plastic and decreases our use of peat.
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Prices: $5-$6 with some larger plants or shrubs priced higher. Anyone with a current horticultural society membership card will receive a 10% discount. Cash, debit or credit accepted
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NURSERY & DISPLAY GARDENS
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Pollin' Gardens mission is to make it as easy as possible for your home to provide habitat for pollinators. We have large demonstration gardens that allow you to see how the plants actually grow. You are free to roam and explore by yourself or Brenda will be happy to give you a guided tour to learn more about each plant species and the insects that use them. Please note that the gardens are private spaces and some paths may be uneven. Touring the gardens is done at your own risk.
About Us
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Pollin' Gardens started as a joint venture between myself, Brenda Near, my daughter Jessie and her boyfriend Thomas in the spring of 2021. We wanted to promote growing native plants to local home owners so they could create habitat for bees, butterflies and birds by increasing the biodiversity in their gardens.
We grew and sold many healthy plants in our first year, donated plants to two school pollinator projects and created a pollinator garden at the Uxbridge Historical Centre.
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Jessie and Thomas are now on a new adventure, creating sustainable agriculture on their own homestead in Nova Scotia, but I am still here growing native plants from locally collected seeds and expanding my own gardens!
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I look forward to meeting you and helping you grow a meaningful garden!
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Brenda
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P.S. We do know how to spell! Our name "Pollin' Gardens" is a play on the words Pollinator and Pollen.
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The Plant People
Brenda Near
I have always loved the outdoors and nature. While studying visual arts at York University, I began a small gardening business, learning as I went. In the early 90's we moved to a 5 acre property near Zephyr, Ontario. Gardens went in almost immediately but it wasn't until much later that I discovered native plants and the benefits they bring to the local wildlife. Now I am hooked on creating gardens that not only look good but ones that are teaming with insect life.
Jessie Pearson
Jessie completed her B. Sc. in biology at the University of Waterloo. She is passionate to the core about saving this beautiful planet and all it's creatures.
Thomas Cornell
Thomas completed his Honours B. Sc. degree in environmental science and ecology at the University of Waterloo. His intersecting interests in citizen science, sustainability, ecology, native plants and their physiology have led him to pollinator habitat gardens as the most practical means to address the ongoing extinction crisis.
Neil Pearson 1966 to 2024
Neil was Brenda's incredibly supportive husband. The gardens stand as a testament to the labour and heart he poured into our property.