Local gardens take root in downtown Winnipeg

There is a new garden in downtown Winnipeg that uses native plants, including indigenous cultures.

The first indigenous gardens were planted Tuesday morning in downtown Winnipeg by volunteers from BIZ, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, RBC and the City of Winnipeg.

Located in front of APTN headquarters at 339 Portage Ave., the five garden beds feature local “planting schemes and materials based on community ideas and feedback,” Downtown BIZ said in a news release.

The gardens feature eight types of plants, said Stephanie Voyce, Downtown BIZ's manager of accommodations, cleaning and transportation.

“We have plants like sage, artemisia, sweet grass, rudbeckia. They're beautiful, and most of them are very colorful — something you'd see in a wildflower meadow,” he said.

Members of the Downtown BIZ customer service team will be outside APTN through Thursday, talking to people about the traditional uses of each type of plant. Written descriptions are also available in kindergartens.

Voyce said the group wants to have some original prairie plants downtown and recognize their role in local culture.

Downtown BIZ hopes to eventually start an indigenous garden competition with local gardeners, she said.