Work on Canby's native plant sanctuary ramping up

With a little help from some friends, the native plant sanctuary at Canby Community Park has received a boost.

According to David Kleinke, sanctuary chair, the Canby Community Enhancement Grants Project awarded a $3,500 grant to help develop the site. Additionally, the sanctuary has received funds from Canby Garden Club and Canby Kiwanis.

Kleinke and his wife Karen moved to Canby from West Linn in 2022.

“The first thing we do in a new area is visit all the parks,” he explained. “The Canby Community Park had a sign signifying a native plant area. It was overrun by nonnative blackberries. I went to the Canby Parks Department and asked if it was okay to start pulling the blackberries. They said ‘okay.’”

Since 2023 Kleinke has rallied a small group of volunteers to pull weeds and purchase plants. In February more than 50 community members helped dig and plant 154 native plants, many donated from local nurseries and Canby Garden Club members.

“The new funding will help us mulch the plants, purchase some tools, develop educational signs and begin work on a permanent path though the sanctuary,” he said. “We are also flagging and marking each plant.”

Kleinke said that the sanctuary is now under the umbrella of the Canby Garden Club, and he is working with Liz Belz-Templeman, a teacher at the Canby High School, to integrate the native plant sanctuary into the high school environmental and ecology curriculum.

He is hoping local teachers will include the park in their field trip plans. According to the sign at the park the sanctuary was developed and maintained by the OSU Master Gardeners of Clackamas County, but the group is unclear when that work fell away.

“We would love to know the history of this area,” Kleinke said.

According to the Nation Audubon Society, “Restoring native plant habitat is vital to preserving biodiversity. By creating a native plant garden, each patch of habitat becomes part of a collective effort to nurture and sustain the living landscape for birds and other animals.”

The City of Canby Parks Department has helped with water sourcing, chips and logistics.

“They have been terrific to work with,” Kleinke added. “We recently had our first drop of mulch. It was a very warm morning. Two of us were working from 7 a.m. At 11 a.m. a family visiting from Spokane, Washington saw the work and offered to join in. “By noon we were all cleaned up.”

Watering and mulching continue every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon. Everyone is welcome. More information is available at canbygardenclub.com