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Plan checklist

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The Zoldak Property

1074 Echo Beach Road, Three Mile Lake

Planting plan created by The District Municipality of Muskoka

Survey Date: 06/30/2025

Funded by • Restore Your Muskoka Shore • Great Lakes Guardian Community Fund •

Schedule A:

Plants & Property

Land Characteristics

This planting plan is designed based on the land characteristics identified during the day of the site visit. Plants are chosen according to the soil and light conditions on your property. The number of plants chosen for each planting compartment takes into account the square metre area of the space, as well as the amount of current vegetation cover. Your property is part of ecoZone: 4b

Land Characteristics by Compartment

Plant Selection Summary

The following shrubs and trees are chosen for their suitability and survivability given the current soil and light conditions in each compartment on your property, as well as preferable features.

Plant Information

The following table summarizes key information about each plant selected for your property.

	Sweet Gale Height: 1-2m Sweet Gale is a medium-sized shrub which grows into a thick bush about 1-2 m tall. This species produces 1-8 cm long, oblong-lanceolate leaves which are finely toothed at the tip and are spirally arranged. When bruised, these leaves give off a pleasant aroma. Male and female catkins are produced on separate plants. The seeds are dispersed from the female plants via water, as they float on two corky bracts. This shrub also provides a good food source for bird species that eat the seeds including Grouse, Chickadees, and Bluebirds. Mammal species like Beavers and White-Tailed Deer also browse on the twigs and leaves of this plant.
	Narrow Leaved Meadowsweet Height: 1-2m The Narrow Leaved Meadowsweet is an erect, deciduous shrub, which grows in the shape of a mound to a height of 1-2m. This species develops numerous branches and branchlets, giving it a sparse appearance. Leaves produced are simple and narrow with sharply toothed borders growing alternately along the branches. These bright, light green leaves appear crowded, as they grow close together on the stocks and branches. During the fall, leaves turn a yellow-red or yellow-orange colour. Small white to light pink flower clusters appear in the spring growing in a dense, narrow pyramid at the terminal ends of the branches. During late summer to early fall, these flowers produce smooth, papery seed pods.
	Nannyberry Height: 3 m Nannyberry is a large deciduous shrub species that typically grows about 3 m in height. The leaves are dark green, ovate shaped, oppositely arranged, have a pointed tip, and have finely toothed margins. The flowers are showy, white colored, appear in flat topped clusters, and bloom in May. These flowers produce blueish black berries, which are edible to humans and persist throughout the winter. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species , like bees and butteries. The fruit is beneficial to wildlife species, including birds and small mammals. This shrub has attractive fall foliage. The root system is extensive, making this plant valuable for controlling erosion and stabilizing loose soil. This shrub can be pruned to have a single stem and grown as a small tree instead of a shrub.
	Blue Flag Iris Height: 0.5 m The Blue Flag Iris is a showy perennial wildflower that typically grows about 0.5 m in height. This plant may also be known by the common name Harlequin Blue Flag. The leaves are light green, sword-shaped, slightly arched or erect, and appear growing out as a cluster around the base of the plant. The attractive blue flowers start to bloom in the early spring, emerging from a tall flowering stalk that can reach up to 1 m. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species, like bees and butterflies. The seeds are also beneficial to wildlife species, like birds and small mammals.
	Swamp Milkweed Height: 1 m Swamp Milkweed is a beautiful wildflower species that typically grows about 1 m tall. The leaves are light green coloured, narrow, lance shaped, and oppositely arranged. The flowers are showy, fragrant, bright pink, appear in clusters on flowering stems, and bloom between July and August. The flowers give way to large, long and narrow, brown seed pods, which produce an abundance of seeds with tufts of long, white hairs. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species, like bees and butterflies. As with all Milkweeds, the stem exudes a milky sap when broken, however the sap of the Swamp Milkweed is less milky than other species. This sap is critical for caterpillars of the endangered Monarch Butterfly to deter predators.
	Bush Honeysuckle Height: 1m The Bush Honeysuckle is a small, hardy, deciduous shrub that rarely grows taller than 1 m in height. The leaves are simple, oppositely arranged, ovate shaped, and have finely toothed margins. During the spring and summer, the leaves are dark green in colour, then in the fall they take on a variety of colours ranging from a deep purple to light yellow. The flowers are small, showy, yellow to orange colored, trumpet shaped, appear in clusters on the tips of branches, and bloom between June and July. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species, including hummingbirds and butterflies. The roots of the Bush Honeysuckle are fibrous, giving it the ability to form thickets and making it an ideal shrub to plant for erosion control.
	New England Aster Height: 2m New England Aster is a showy perennial wildflower with an average height of about 120 cm but can grow up to 2 m tall. It has a central stem with branching in the upper half covered in fine white hairs. Its leaves clasp these stems as they have no petioles. The basal leaves are spatula-shaped, while the stem leaves are alternate and lance-shaped. The leaves are also covered in soft white hairs. Its showy flowers are clustered at the ends of the central stem and surrounding branches. Each flower is composed of 30+ deep purple ray florets surrounding numerous golden disk florets. These plants excel in moist soils with lots of sun. It is often found along lake shorelines, forest edges, in wet meadows, or in marshes/swamps. New England Aster reproduces and spreads using both achenes, which are dispersed by wind and a rhizomatous root system, allowing this plant to colonize open areas. It is also known to easily colonize recently disturbed areas so could be considered for difficult sites that are hard to grow on. This wildflower species attracts lots of pollinators such as bees and butterflies but rarely attracts wildlife, such as wild turkey, deer, and rabbit.
	Blue Vervain Height: 1.5 m Blue Vervain is a perennial wildflower species that grows about 1.5 m in height. It has a slender, upright form with reddish-green coloured, rough-haired stems. Its leaves are oppositely arranged, lance-shaped, and on short petioles with large serrations along the edge. Occasionally, there are two lobes present at the base of the leaves. The flowers are showy, blueish purple coloured, have five petals, appear on dense spikes at the top of flowering stems, and bloom between July and September. The flowers bloom first at the bottom of the spike, travelling upwards and blooming in bands. This plant spreads well and can form small colonies. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species, like bees and butterflies. The seeds are also beneficial to wildlife species, like birds and small mammals.
	Sweet Oxeye Height: 2m Sweet Oxeye, also known as False Sunflower, is an attractive, herbaceous, perennial wildflower, which can grow to almost 2 m tall. The flowers are perched atop a stiff stem, with a brownish-yellow center cone surrounded by bright yellow to orange rays. Leaves are 5-12 cm long and 2-8 cm wide, oppositely arranged along the stem, ovate to lanceolate in shape, and have a toothed margin. This wildflower grows best in moist, well-drained soils, preferring full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Some common natural habitats for the Sweet Oxeye are prairies, meadows, forest edges, and stream banks. Sweet Oxeye is drought tolerant so could be planted in difficult dry sites, but will grow best with regular watering. A large variety of insect species are attracted to the Sweet Oxeye, making it a great addition to a habitat garden.
	Spotted Joe-Pye Weed Height: 1.5 m Spotted Joe-Pye Weed is a colourful wildflower species that can grow up to 1.5 m tall and can spread about 1 m. It has a plain or spotted purple stem, which is sometimes covered in fine hairs. The leaves are large, lanceolate shaped, have serrated edges, and appear in whorls of 3-5. The flowers are showy, fragrant, bright pink/purple coloured, have 8-20 disk florets, appear in clusters at the top of a flowering stem, and bloom in mid to late summer. The flowers are beneficial to pollinator species, like bees and butterflies. This plant spreads well and can form small colonies. The roots can be useful for controlling erosion and stabilizing shorelines.

Compartment A

Naturalization Area

• pH: acidic, normal
• Depth: potted, wildflowers
• Moisture: moist
• Soil Type: sandy
• Plant Height: max 1.5m
• Light conditions: partial sun

Sweet Gale

2

Narrow Leaved Meadowsweet

2

Nannyberry

1

Blue Flag Iris

3

Swamp Milkweed

1

Compartment B

Naturalization Area

• pH: acidic, normal
• Depth: potted, wildflowers
• Moisture: moist
• Soil Type: sandy
• Plant Height: max 1.5m
• Light conditions: partial sun

Sweet Gale

3

Narrow Leaved Meadowsweet

2

Nannyberry

1

Blue Flag Iris

3

Bush Honeysuckle

3

Compartment C

Naturalization Area

• pH: acidic, normal
• Depth: potted, wildflowers
• Moisture: moist
• Soil Type: sandy
• Plant Height: max 1.5m
• Light conditions: partial sun

Sweet Gale

2

Narrow Leaved Meadowsweet

1

New England Aster

1

Blue Vervain

1

Compartment D

Naturalization Area

• pH: acidic, normal
• Depth: potted
• Moisture: moist
• Soil Type: sandy
• Plant Height: max 1.5m
• Light conditions: partial sun

Sweet Gale

2

Nannyberry

1

Bush Honeysuckle

2

Compartment E

Naturalization Area

• pH: acidic, normal
• Depth: wildflowers
• Moisture: dry, normal
• Soil Type: sandy
• Plant Height: max 1.5m
• Light conditions: partial sun

New England Aster

1

Blue Vervain

2

Sweet Oxeye

4

Compartment F

Naturalization Area

Boneset in lieu of Joe-Pye.

• pH: acidic, normal
• Depth: potted, wildflowers
• Moisture: moist
• Soil Type: sandy, loamy
• Plant Height: max 1.5m
• Light conditions: shade

Sweet Gale

2

Narrow Leaved Meadowsweet

2

Nannyberry

2

Sweet Oxeye

3

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed

3

Schedule B

Financial Summary

Project by: The District Municipality of Muskoka

Shoreline Re-Naturalization Starter Kit includes: free site visit, customized re-naturalization planting plan for your shoreline property, native plants including free bare root (small) and potted (large) plants and wildflowers, coconut fibre pads to deter grass from growing around new plantings, tree guards for all deciduous trees, mulch for your wildflowers, Plant Care Guide with instructions on how to take care of your new plants, Habitat Creation Guide and a Wildflower Garden Guide.

Our planting plans are created onsite with you and provide detailed information and plans to re-naturalize your shoreline property. We take photos of areas for planting and overlay native plants that are well suited to your property based on site conditions such as soil type and sunlight availability.

We will work with you to create a plan that works for you including options for low growing plants in areas where views are important.

Schedule C

Project Agreement

Stewardship Agreement

Please indicate your agreement to this proposed plan by signing the following Stewardship Agreement and submitting it, along with your financial contribution, to:

The District Municipality of Muskoka
70 Pine Street Bracebridge, Ontario P1L 1N3

Plant Availability

Please note that plant species may need to be changed based on plant stock availability at the time of ordering.

Project Completion

Upon receiving your signed stewardship agreement and financial contribution, a date will be booked for you to pick up your Natural Edge Kit. The District Municipality of Muskoka will supply all plants and materials. If you are paying for the planting to be completed for you, a date will be arranged for The District Municipality of Muskoka to plant your shoreline, bringing the plants and materials with them. If there are particular dates that you would prefer, we will do our best to accommodate your requests.

About this program

About The District Municipality of Muskoka

The District of Muskoka is an upper-tier municipality that has monitored water quality in Muskoka area lakes since 1980. Since 2002, the Muskoka Water Strategy has provided integrated and strategic initiatives for the protection of Muskoka's water resources. The purpose of the strategy is to guide and minimize the impact of human activities on water resources; ensure human and environmental health; and preserve the quality of life in Muskoka.

This program was created by Watersheds Canada

We believe that every person has the right to access clean and healthy lakes and rivers in Canada. At Watersheds Canada, we work to keep these precious places naturally clean and healthy for people and wildlife to continue using for years to come. We love working with others to meet the needs of local communities, whether you’re a concerned citizen, a landowner, a lake association looking for help, or a coalition of groups interested in activating your local community.