My parents and I started our prairie garden in 2021 in an effort to provide various native species with habitat within the city. Since then my entire family including my sister’s three children got to witness an influx of Monarch caterpillars in the garden for their transition into butterflies. As well, we have learned in this garden about native plants and their many traditional uses, enjoying countless flowers blooming, including our coveted provincial flower, the prairie crocus, as one of the first spring sightings each year.
My parents were served a Compliance Order from the
@cityofwinnipeg on Thursday September 4th, 2025 which stated we must mow down the garden by Sunday, September 7th, 2025, or the city would come and mow it down themselves.
The plants in the garden have been bought from Prairie Flora and
@prairieoriginals , two local growers committed to native prairie plants, species that play critical roles in providing habitat for local birds, pollinators, and other insects including monarch butterflies.
I am outraged that the City of Winnipeg would be approaching us in this manner about a garden that we have put so much time, money and love into, and which is a small part of an ecological solution for our endangered tall-grass prairie!
As the city states, “Today tall-grass prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada. Less than 1% of Manitoba's tall-grass prairie remains.” – Prairie Habitat, Parks, City of Winnipeg website
There are programs supporting the creation of gardens just like ours, including the work of
@beebettermb ,
@monarch_watch , and
@livingprairiemuseum .
Thankfully, I know someone connected to the city’s Naturalist Service Branch and I have been informed unofficially this morning that our Compliance Order will be closed. Otherwise just to appeal the order we would be charged an administrative fee of $250.00. This is shameful. We are people trying to protect ecosystems. The fact that Jenny Khounnasene of the city of Winnipeg issued this order is appalling.
DO BETTER CITY OF WINNIPEG!
THANK YOU PAUL MUTCH OF THE NATURALIST SERVICE BRANCH FOR SECURING THE SAFETY OF OUR SMALL TALL-GRASS PRAIRIE REFUGE!
