Last updated: May 2026
Softfield is an informational site focused on backyard pollinator habitat planning using native plants in Canada. The site covers three main areas: bloom calendars for Canadian growing conditions, host plant selection for bees and butterflies, and the design of pesticide-free yard zones.
What this site covers
Content is organized around practical decisions a homeowner or gardener faces when trying to support local pollinators: which plants to choose, when they bloom, which insects they support, and how to reduce chemical inputs in defined areas of a yard.
All articles are specific to Canadian conditions — hardiness zones, regional native species, and the particular seasonal constraints of Canadian growing seasons. Where guidance differs between regions (e.g., British Columbia versus Ontario), those differences are noted.
Sources and references
Information is drawn from publicly available resources, including materials published by:
- Wild About Gardening — a program of the BC Society for Ecological Restoration
- Pollinator Partnership Canada
- Seeds of Diversity Canada
- The Butterflyway Project (David Suzuki Foundation)
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada plant hardiness zone data
Where specific claims rely on a particular source, that source is linked directly in the article.
Scope and limitations
This site covers only backyard and residential garden contexts in Canada. It does not address commercial agriculture, large-scale restoration, or urban planning beyond the individual yard scale. Plant recommendations are based on publicly documented native ranges and do not substitute for advice from a local nursery or extension service familiar with specific regional conditions.
Information on pest management is descriptive, not prescriptive. Decisions about pesticide use involve local regulations, specific pest pressures, and individual circumstances that this site cannot account for.
Contact
For questions or corrections, use the form below.