Sunlight dappled through the trees and steam rose from the dewy foliage. Birds twittered above us and I think I heard some frogs in the distance. If there was a platonic ideal for conditions to tour a Nature Steward site, this was it.

With another Native Plant Sale on the horizon, I found myself in the garden of a regular patron of sales past: Tom Fancsy, whose Maple Ridge-located property has welcomed – *checks notes* – 100 new plants since the start of his gardening journey!

“The best I can do is just make it as good as possible for the time that I’m here,” said Tom. If you’re looking to do the same with whatever type of garden you’ve got, there’s no better place to start than with our Spring Native Plant Sale. Native plants provide shelter and food for animals and pollinators, and unlike invasive species, they won’t take over a garden, leaving room for a beautifully diverse landscape.

“I name them once they get to a certain height,” Tom told me as we walked past Gandalf, Ganesh, and Yuri, among others. As Tom showed me around, he continually pointed out areas in which he manages invasive species: “I just hope some other native stuff can kind of come in and make a difference,” he said at one point, explaining how he works tirelessly on sections of Himalayan blackberry, policeman’s helmet, Japanese knotweed, and more. The native plants are truly making a stark difference to his property already, though, as evidenced by stands of salmonberry, western redcedars and hemlocks, vine maples, and more among lush mossy paths wandering throughout – a stark difference from the tangled brambles of invasives that Tom has bravely fought back. “It’s very grounding,” Tom said of his time outdoors, “and has a very good impact on mental health, especially in this current timeline we’re in.”

It hasn’t been all smooth sailing – not every tree has a name and not every sapling can be seen amongst invasive bushes – but like anything that takes time, it is paying dividends: “When I first started planting the trees, it’s not like I did a ton of research… now I’m getting a better sense… I don’t know if they’re thriving, but they’re doing much better, like cohabitating.” As we went further into the reaches of Tom’s yard, a young forest of red alders surrounding a seasonal pond gave way to a rich and dense evergreen forest more akin to what you might see on a hike in untouched coastal mountains. Tom gave a backstory: “For the first two years, I never even got back to this point because it was like the blackberry and the balsam and everything was so thick.” Clearing a path through the invasives gave Tom a new perspective, one fostered by the beauty of the older woods he stumbled upon.

Tom continually impressed me with this broad perspective, one that both recognized the challenging tasks involved with habitat healing, as well as a grounded approach to doing small steps at a time. If there was any way to help create more of the established, healthy woods, and less of the unappealing monoculture, Tom was going to do it. “I used to look out here and just see all the invasives just completely eradicating all biodiversity. And now you can see so many different plants, all the salmonberries, all these different things.” Aware that not everyone is able to work in such large areas, Tom also made a point to advocate for volunteering with local organizations with activities like invasive plant pulls: “You can do an invasive pull in the park that you visit, right? And then every day you can visit that park, and you notice… that connection.”

Of course, perhaps it should go without saying that if you have even the smallest amount of space, it’s best for it to be occupied by a native plant that will support local wildlife and pollinators. Tom didn’t get to 100 plants (and counting) spontaneously – it took dedication, research, and, of course, plants! At the Fraser Valley Conservancy, we’ve got plants, and the know-how to best care for your land, however big or small. Our Spring Native Plant Sale, in Tom’s own words, is “right around the corner,” and we’d love it if you participated.

Some of Tom’s selections from sales past include salal, dull Oregon-grape, and salmonberry dotting the floor of his property, with some conifer saplings like Douglas-fir, cedar, and hemlock already growing steadily. If you’re inspired by Tom’s gardening journey and want to start your own, visit our shop today and reach out to our experts with any plant-related questions you might have! If you want to start taking care of your own piece of nature like Tom, check out our Nature Stewards program.

Shop The Plant Sale Become a Nature Steward