Landscapes as beautiful to nature as they are to you
Natural gardens and shorelines designed and installed using native plants
Can we garden for nature as well as for humans? Can we make a beautiful landscape full of native plants that have co-evolved with Ontario's insects and birds? Can we see the world from the perspective of everything in it, not just through our own eyes? And can we leave our small patch of the planet a little bit better?
Why you'll feel good when you garden for life
A better future lies just outside your door.
Imagine no more mowing. No more fertilizing. Much less watering. Instead, you'll have a garden alive with butterflies and birds that changes month by month, season by season.
With the world facing a biodiversity crisis, it's hard to know what to do. The problem seems so big. One answer is to act where you can: close to home, healing the world one garden at a time.
Most importantly, you'll feel a deeper connection with your home and the land you live on. You'll be at the vanguard of humanity's rediscovered healthy relationship with the rest of nature.
Get a free guide to natural gardens and shorelines
Fill out the form to get a free guide to creating natural gardens and shorelines in Haliburton County and surrounding areas, plus Grounded's popular newsletter.
"Great job on your newsletter! Well researched, fact based recommendations with excellent resources. Looking forward to more!" - Rita D.
Serving Haliburton County and surrounding areas
Including Kawartha Lakes, Muskoka and Hastings
Lawn Replacement and Native Plant Gardens
Lawns, long a symbol of garden perfection, have environmental and psychological implications. Transform your garden into a landscape that benefits you – and nature.
Shoreline Naturalization
Haliburton County’s lakes are its lifeblood, and healthy lakes require healthy shorelines. We can help bring your shoreline back to life.
Septic System Landscaping
Don’t know what to do with your septic bed? Using it for a native plant garden is a great way to combine functionality and natural beauty.
About Simon Payn
My name is Simon Payn and I help people transform their boring lawns into gardens that are beautiful for wildlife as well as for humans.
Sometimes it takes five decades of life to figure out your calling. Now I've discovered it. Fascinated by nature and gardens as a child, finally I've found a way to combine both, and to do our part to fix the biodiversity crisis the world is facing. Now my hands are in the soil ad my head is in native plants.
I've taken several courses with the University of Guelph, including one on naturalizing urban landscapes. And I've created a demonstration native plant garden in downtown Haliburton.
Gardens that please nature as well as humans are the future. Not only do they save hours of mowing and maintenance, but they create an ecosystem rich in invertebrates, birds and mammals. These types of gardens help us do our bit to fix our broken relationship with nature, and I want to bring them to the Haliburton Highlands.
What is Grounded?
Education
University of Guelph
- Naturalizing and Restoring Landscapes
- Plant Identification
- Business Principles in Horticulture
Kelly D Norris
- New Naturalism Academy
Philosophical background
Snubsta
- Each day is a meditation on the beauty and wonder that surround us. Most of all, it's about love. Read more here.
The Garden at Lucas House in Haliburton
One century building.
One fewer lawn.
One Grounded garden.
Native Plants for Haliburton County
Making Natural Gardens and Shorelines
Ecological Landscaping in Haliburton County: New Guide Tells You What You Need to Know
This new guide from Haliburton County Master Gardeners provides an excellent overview of what ecological landscaping is – and how you can transform your landscape into something that’s beautiful to you and to the rest of nature.
Haliburton Native Plants Explained
An in-depth look at the benefits of native plants, how we decide what’s native to Haliburton County, and a list of plants considered native.
On bioswales, SuDS and rain gardens
There are many ways to create a natural garden – and some of those ways can fulfil vital roles for us. Here’s a sign about a SuDS installation. SuDS (Sustainable Drainage System) is basically a way to use plants and the ground to improve drainage. Instead of concrete which funnels water quickly away and could…
Growing a Green Renaissance
Nature’s Echo: Rediscovering Human Identity through Native Gardening
The deep, intrinsic connection with the natural world, once the bedrock of human existence, has been eroded by the pursuit of progress and convenience. This disconnection has not just scarred our planet; it has left an indelible mark on our very sense of self. Amidst this backdrop of alienation, native gardening emerges not just as a horticultural practice, but as a beacon of hope, a pathway to rediscover our true identity and reclaim our place in the natural world.
Rooted in Region: How Native Plant Gardens Foster a Sense of Place
Traditional gardens, with their often non-native and cosmopolitan plant selections, can sometimes blur regional distinctions, creating a homogenized landscape that lacks a true sense of locality. In contrast, native plant gardens offer a vibrant alternative, deeply rooted in the region’s natural heritage and ecological makeup.
Cultivating Love: The Garden’s Path to Global Compassion
In the tranquility of our gardens, amid the rustle of leaves and the hum of bees, a profound transformation unfolds. It’s a journey of the heart, where the simple act of nurturing plants becomes a pathway to cultivating a deeper love – not just for our gardens but for the entire world.
Bringing Back Biodiversity
Native Gardens: Your Personal Contribution to Fighting Biodiversity Loss
In the face of climate change and biodiversity loss, feelings of helplessness are common. Yet, there is a powerful tool within our reach to combat these global challenges: native plant gardening. This practice not only offers environmental benefits but also empowers individuals to make a tangible difference.
The Invasive Plant Problem: Origins, Impacts, and Solutions in Haliburton Gardens
In the picturesque landscape of Haliburton County, a silent challenge is lurking in gardens and landscapes: invasive plants. These uninvited guests, often brought in through ornamental gardening or accidental transport, pose a significant threat to the local ecosystem.
Haliburton’s Homegrown National Park: The Power of Native Plant Gardens
A quiet revolution is underway, inspired by the visionary ideas of ecologist Douglas Tallamy. It’s a movement transforming private gardens into vibrant ecosystems that collectively form a new kind of national park — one dedicated to biodiversity. This concept, where every backyard becomes a haven for native species, is reshaping our approach to conservation and redefining our relationship with nature.
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Get in touch
If you'd like to talk about Grounded gardens, please contact Simon Payn.
Grounded
123 Maple Ave.
Box 261,
Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0
Get a free guide to natural gardens and shorelines
Fill out the form to get a free guide to creating natural gardens in Haliburton County and surrounding areas, plus Grounded's popular newsletter.
"Great job on your newsletter! Well researched, fact based recommendations with excellent resources. Looking forward to more!" - Rita D.