Posted by: Mede McAtee
Even as the days grow shorter and colder, the soil remains warm. That means Green Dreamers are still at work watering plants, shrubs and the new tree which the City of Ottawa planted on October 17. The Amelanchier, commonly known as June Berry or Serviceberry, is now in the western end of the planter on Cameron Avenue at Bank. Soon enough the ground will freeze. We will put away our signs for the season and begin planning for the next.
Before then we must thank the volunteer gardeners, new and returning, who weed, water and pick up garbage in the various sites around the neighbourhood. We also value the neighbours who stop to chat and offer praise for our work. They tell us how much they admire the plantings. Green Dreamers couldn’t do what we do without community support. That support also comes from OSCA and from Firehall and City staff. We have staff to thank for the installation of three well-functioning and well-used rain barrels at the Firehall.
Keeping trees and plants watered during this dry summer was made easier by supportive businesses including Paper Tiger Noodle Bar and Dairy Queen. Many thanks to Oat Couture Oatmeal Café who replaced their hose to facilitate the rejuvenation of the beds on both sides of Glen Avenue. We are also grateful to the OPL Sunnyside branch staff who were always happy to give us access to their hose and to the Sinclair Family on Sunnyside who did the same. Trinity Church community also deserves many thanks for their help.
In a number of the planters, we addressed dry conditions by creating troughs at the curb to prevent water run-off. Arborist woodchips, rather than bagged mulch, kept the soil cool and damp. Passers-by may have noticed inverted pop bottles helping with deep root watering. For garden sites without ready access to water, we began to use an 80L bag from Lee Valley designed to transport water in a wheel barrow.
The dry summer wasn’t the only challenge Green Dreamers encountered. At the beginning of June, a sinkhole appeared in the rain garden at Roslyn Avenue. As a safety precaution the City of Ottawa asked us to suspend our maintenance of this site. The weeds ran riot until late September when the repair was completed. Soon after, a work party of seven Green Dreamers spent several hours one beautiful autumn morning tending the site.
If you’re interested in joining us in 2026, contact us: envirocrewOOS@gmail.com
Mede McAtee is a Green Dreamer who has lived in Old Ottawa South for more than 25 years
Featured in the November 2025 OSCAR.