The Ecology Lab staff have worked diligently to maintain and expand the naturalized gardens that surround our buildings. A naturalized garden can serve as an alternative to manicured lawns, which can require large inputs of water, fertilizers & pesticides in order to maintain the look that many desire. These gardens are composed of perennial native plants which are adapted to the climatic stresses of the area, making them drought tolerant and low maintenance.
A number of garden areas have been modelled after different vegetation communities. The Dorney Garden was among the first naturalized gardens on a Canadian campus, and the first at the University of Waterloo. A number of student naturalization garden projects have been implemented around the Environment buildings.
Take an interactive tour of our gardens!
The gardens we care for include: