Including the Western Red Lily in a Natural Habitat Garden

To extend the learning opportunities related to the Western Red Lily, we suggest including this attractive plant in a natural habitat garden that the students design and build. 

Several steps must be taken to ensure the success of managing a natural habitat garden.  Some suggestions are listed below, however, extensive research and knowledge of the ecological relationships in the garden must be carefully considered. 

Considerations:

-We suggest holding a meeting with parents, staff and community members at a natural habitat garden that is already setup.  This meeting could be used to discuss the plan, potential problems, needs, and methods for managing a natural habitat garden at the school.

          -Be sure to survey the area that is proposed for use as a natural habitat garden at the school.  Assess the conditions and other environmental concerns in the setting, including: moisture, sunlight, seasonal shade, soil (salinity, sandiness).

          -The Western Red Lily is known to be able to grow in various conditions, such as woodland areas, prairie fields, and wetland edges. However, a rule of thumb, suggested by Anna Leighton and Bonnie Lawrence (2002) is that moist areas that have considerable drainage or run-off are ideal growing conditions for this plant. 

          -The flowers of the Western Red Lily are usually intense and deep in their colouring (orange-red) and are therefore excellent for attracting certain species of butterflies (Swallowtails) and hummingbirds and bees.

 -Make a chart of components that your school plans to include in the natural habitat garden.  The goal for your school should be to attempt to recognize the various ecological relationships that will be present in the garden, while attempting to keep the garden as natural as possible.  Consider the following components:

• Plants for butterflies, bees, moths should be included such as: green milkweed, dwarf milkweed, beard tongue.
• Plants for hummingbirds and orioles (sappy): riverbank grape, choke cherry, raspberries, Western Red Lily
• Some creatures require dust and grit to be able to carry out their biological processes.  Consider the soil conditions of the garden and how the conditions will be managed.  Consider including wood-chips as a component in the school garden.  
• Water should be readily available for creatures to use in the garden and/or nearby.

-E.O. Wilson presents the foreword in the book Butterfly Gardening: Creating Summer Magic in Your Garden (1998), providing a recommendation for a detailed C-shaped or crescent-shaped butterfly area that could include the Western Red Lily.  The concept promotes the use of various shapes, sizes and colours of plants, all planted together in the same crescent-shaped area.  This concept provides an environment with some protection and therefore facilitates various species of butterflies, bees and moths, while minimizing competition in this crescent-shaped area.

        The diagram provided below provides a general outline for the crescent-shape concept.  Taller plants should be planted in a central position, in the back of the crescent, while shorter plants can be planted on the inside of the crescent.  Plants mid-range in height should be on the sides of the outer crescent shape.  It would be appropriate to plant Western Red Lilies on the outside of either end of the crescent.   The generally dark colouration of the Western Red Lilies should be contrasted by lighter coloured vegetation in the center of the crescent-shaped area.  Also, a dark rock pile should be provided near the crescent-shaped area to provide a suitable place for butterflies to bask. 

Natural Habitat Garden Diagram
Natural Habitat Garden Time Schedule Sample