Where We Begin
Our Roots
Restoring Native Ecosystems
Our bioregion was once a diverse mosaic of deciduous hardwood forests, open savannas, ravines, and wetlands. Stretching from Georgia in the southern United States to Hamilton in Ontario, Carolinian forests ranged from oak-hickory woodlands to maple-oak forests, while open savannas—a landscape that predates many of our cities—were home to large Bur Oak trees. Today, our homes sit on a land that was once part of these former habitats. The best thing we can do is put some of this natural heritage back.
Our approach to ecological design helps you do just that. Keeping our bioregion's history in mind, we have crafted our Oasis Forest Garden approach from our Monument Tree research. Our goal is to help you restore native habitat on your property. As part of our work, we include educational information on native plants, local resources and partnerships, and practical steps to help you care for your native garden after installation. Get in touch if you'd like a personalized landscape design or to learn more about our approach to designing contemporary stormwater management projects.
Ecology Is Beautiful
Our research shows that the most significant stewardship of Monument Trees in Hamilton is being done by private homeowners. We can be stewards of the region by choosing to create beautiful ecological landscapes at home. Here is to making a difference!
We design spaces that restore healthy environmental systems on your property. A guiding principal we employ on our landscape projects is to create ecologically functional places that work for everyday life that are also beautiful. Our core values focus on growth, balance, and respect for all species to make places that are comfortable, timeless, and meaningful. We have crafted this page to share our philosophy while allowing you to go at your own pace.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE
Stormwater Management Design
Our Oasis Forest approach brings together the core principles and best practices of our landscape design work and research. As a client, you benefit from these methods throughout the design and implementation of your project. We’ve written down a few key recommendations here, so you can return to them over time. Our stewardship guide also serves as an aftercare resource, supporting your landscape through its critical establishment phase and beyond.
Seasonal Calendar
April
What is Happening?
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Insects are dormant in hollow plant stems and leaf litter
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Native bees and other pollinators have not yet emerged
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Snow melt is permeating ground
To Do
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Wait, observe, and leave spent stalks intact
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Allow bees and other pollinators to emerge
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Note any early signs of perennial growth
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Garden Prep
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Selecting Plants
Meet Our Resource Team
Soil testing generally isn't necessary but it can give you a clear understanding of the specific composition, pH level, and nutrient content of your soil. In Hamilton, soil is mostly fine textured or clay from glacial deposits. Loam, a mix of sand, silt, and clay, is ideal for gardening because it holds nutrients, retains water, and allows for proper drainage, so your soil will need to be amended before planting.
Satelite Garden Centre & Flower Shop
We like them because they are a family-owned small business. The staff are warm, remember you and don't hesitate to help you load things in your car. They have a great selection of plants and garden tools at a good price.
Harper's has an excellent plant selection. They have a tropical greenhouse that is open year-round and a good selection of seasonal plants from April to September, including large trees and a modest supply of native plants. Their brickyard is fantastic! You can find building materials from riverstone, granular a, limestone screenings to individual rocks. They also have a cute interior deco shop, friendly staff and great coffee.
Kayanase (pronounced "Gayanase") is a seed propagation greenhouse dedicated exclusively to native plants. It is located in Oshweegen and open to the public from mid-May to October. We always enjoy speaking with their kind and knowlegeable staff. They have a robust collection of native plants that can be hard to find at other greenhouses.
A well-stocked nursery with a great collection of trees, shrubs, plants and grasses.
Terra is probably the most commercial greenhouse but they have five locations in the region and a long history of credible work.
Our one-stop Canadian shop, Canadian Tire carries some essentials like leaf litter bags for weeds.
Community Groups
There are many community groups who host native plant sales in May and June, as well as the City of Hamilton's Free Tree Giveaway. We'll update this list as plant sales become available.
Stormwater management design is a core aspect of landscape architecture. For large sites, stormwater management systems must be designed and reviewed by a landscape architect and an engineer to ensure they can handle water volumes for a 100-year storm. Here is a quick guide on green infrastructure to get you started:
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Rain Barrels: Simple and affordable, these collect water from downspouts and store it for garden irrigation. Screens can be added to prevent debris and mosquitoes.
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Bioswales & Rain Gardens: Designed by LAs to slow, filter, and absorb runoff, these shallow depressions or channels help distribute water to garden beds or permeate into soil. Often require drainage pipe and can be coordinated with paths and paving areas.
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French Drains & Dry Wells: Gravel-filled trenches with a perforated pipe or underground wells that redirects excess water away from foundations and low areas to prevent basement flooding. Both systems collect and slowly disperse runoff into surrounding soil. Dry wells promote groundwater recharge.
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Permeable Paving & Driveways: paving that allows for the steady absorption of water over a hard surface, as opposed to creating sheet flow during a rain event.
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Filter Strips & Infiltration Ponds: strips of native grasses or plants installed along the perimeter of a property to slow and filter runoff and create habitat. Infiltration ponds are excavations filled with stone that allow water to infiltrate slowly into the surrounding soil.
Resources for Homeowners:
We work with a team of trusted consultants that include civil and structural engineers, as well as stormwater management and paving suppliers on all our projects. We also have relationships with local quarries and can recommend the best quality materials.
Water Quality and Habitat Improvement Financial Assistance
Apply for an LID Grant
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Arborists fall into two camps: consulting arborist and tree-cutting arborist. It costs more to cut a tree down than to trim it. Since aboriculture is a business, it is important to work with a reputable arborist company that won't sell you on removing your tree if it isn't necessary.
Consulting Arborist
We work with an excellent Consulting Arborist, who like us, works tirelessly to keep as many trees standing on development projects as possible. He is an excellent resource for tree queries and an honest guy. If you need a specialized tree evaluation, suspect a pest, or have a development question - let us know and we'll put you in touch with him.
For tree maintenance, which includes tree limb trimming, we work with a reliable and affordable company located in Hamilton. They provide good service for a reasonable cost. If you need tree care, let us know and we'll connect you with their team.
Best tree ID app
Get a property tax reduction (9.88 acres+)
Contractors are typically hired for large-scale jobs that involve hardscape elements such as stairs, patios, outdoor walls and driveways. To ensure a high level of design quality and execution, we work with contractors throughout the construction process to ensure a high standard of implementation.
If you decide to move forward with a full design project, we can help you find the right contractor who fits your needs. We work with several contractors who have a long history in the region and do very good work.
We have included a list of resources and trusted partners we work with to get you started with planning your project. If you are part of a neighbourhood who want to establish a community forest, or if you are a homeowner who would like guidance but are excited about getting your hands dirty, we can set up an initial meeting to figure out what your needs are and to establish a plan.
If you need help with site design, managing water on your site, shaping raingardens or stormwater management systems, grant support or with gaining approvals for a large-scale landscape project, we can help with that too.
Transform Your Space
Enhance Your Garden Routine
Create a Thriving Ecosystem at Home
A landscape is a living system. Creating a functional landscape starts from the ground up, incorporating technical site design with the management of water to support plants. Our plant list includes an overview of our latest research on native species and plant combinations. We update this list yearly to reflect what's available each season.
Native Species
Trees
Monument Trees can live for 200 to 400 years, thriving in a variety of environments—from sunny habitats to shady understories and ravine landscapes. To identify their diversity, we classify trees into three categories:
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Deciduous Trees
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Coniferous Trees
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Small Understory
Shrubs
Native shrubs fall into two categories, each with specific light and soil requirements. Correct placement is essential to ensure their growth and health:
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Coniferous Shrubs
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Deciduous Shrubs
Perennial plants
Perennial plants live for multiple years, typically returning each spring. Choosing plants that match the correct growing environment—whether it is full sun, shade, or saturated soil—is essential for their long-term success. In our projects, we work with the following plant categories:
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Flowering Meadow
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Woodland Groundcover
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Wetland Species
At Tropos we believe that homeowners can make a significant difference in helping cities reach their climate targets. We are committed to advancing ecological knowledge through making the latest research and best practices available to our clients, members, and the community.
Innovative Approach to Restoration
Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata)
Woodland groundcover
Planting
DON'T excavate around the base of a tree. It is common to hear that this isn't a big deal, but finer roots grow close to the surface where they absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Compaction around the base of the tree will also damage a tree's ability to absorb oxygen. Think about the forest floor: the ground around the base of a tree is spongy and soft.
DO plant native groundcover. You can plant groundcover or sedges around the dripline of a tree and they will spread on their own. Native groundcover acts as a protective layer, like mulch. These plants keep moisture in the soil and their fibrous root networks effectively outcompete weeds. See our plant list for groundcover species.
Habitat
DON'T or try not to remove seedlings. Trees are living things that produce offspring as part of their reproductive cycles. If your property allows for it, space permitting of course, the best thing you can do is section off a space of your yard and allow a native tree to nurture new saplings.
DO plant associate understory trees, shrubs and plants. Trees are companion species that grow in communities. They do best when they live with species they have co-evolved with. When they are together they share nutrients, alert one another to pests, and are stronger at responding to environmental change, like rain events or drought. See our plant list for details.
Water
DON'T shallow water trees, especially old trees. Shallow watering only moistens the surface, while deep watering ensures moisture reaches the root zone where it’s needed most. Deep watering encourages trees to develop strong, deep root systems, making them more resilient to drought and environmental stress.
DO water trees throughout the season alongside other plants. Adjust water levels throughout the season. Use a sprinkler and aim for the tree's dripline and root system. Aim to moisten the soil to a depth of 12–18 inches for mature trees and 8–12 inches for younger trees. Trees can be forgotten about in gardens, but they need extra water too in periods of drought.
Maintenance
DON'T remove tree stumps from your yard or garden. Tree stumps are the source of new life in the forest. They nurture new saplings and provide nutrients to other plants when they break down. We often feature them as sculptural elements in ecological gardens and incorporate them into a landscape design.
DO get your trees evaluated by a professional arborist every 1-2 years. Trees that are maintained have a significantly higher rate of surviving storms and drop fewer branches. Do have your tree fertilized by an arborist, and assess for pests. Pathogens like Oak Wilt are moving into our region and can affect multiple trees on a block if not treated quickly. Check our Resource Team for a reputable arborist.
Woodland Garden
A mix of groundcover and understory plants
Building Strong Foundations
Smart landscape strategies require a thoughtful, reasoned, and well planned approach. Every successful landscape project begins with stormwater management. We start by reviewing the technical conditions of your site to identify constraints and opportunities before any design decisions are made.
As part of our design process, we integrate hardscape elements—such as gravel pathways, stone patios, and boulders—into a cohesive system that supports both the structure and longevity of a landscape. We design these features to work in concert with stormwater elements like bioswales and subsurface drainage, to keep rainwater on-site and direct it into the ground.
Based on your goals and budget, we help you develop a custom, site-specific plan that addresses technical challenges of your property while creating a landscape that is elegant and functional day-to-day. Our role is to manage the complexity of these systems—coordinating design decisions, technical requirements, and implementation to ensure that your landscape performs as intended over time. We guide you through when a contractor or engineer is required, and work with trusted partners to ensure all elements meet safety standards, regulatory requirements, and long-term performance expectations.
Granular A
HPB
Boulders
Old Growth Habitat
Our design work is grounded in studio research into our region's historic forest and savanna ecosystems. Monument Trees were once part of vast oak savanna landscapes that stretched across our region and along the Eastern seaboard. These ecosystems were defined by a rich mix of prairie grasses and native shrubs, with large canopy trees forming the ecological framework that supported high levels of biodiversity.
Through our fieldwork, we’ve recorded more than 1,600 Monument Trees in Hamilton, and our dataset continues to grow. What this research consistently reveals is a disconnect: while many of these keystone species still exist on private properties, the surrounding landscapes often lack the layered plant communities that once sustained them. As a result, overall biodiversity remains low.
We use these research findings to inform our landscape design projects—helping clients restore ecological function around existing trees through thoughtful interventions. Even modest actions, such as introducing native groundcover and understory planting beneath established canopy trees, can significantly improve habitat quality and contribute to neighbourhood-scale biodiversity gains.
To support this work, we’ve developed a comprehensive regional forest composition guide as part of our education program that identifies key species and relationships associated with historic landscape conditions. This resource directly informs our design approach and project recommendations. If you’d like to learn more, we invite you to get in touch at the link below.
Native Groundcover
A mix of sedges, grasses and flowering native plants
Beauty & Lived Space
Although we no longer live in forests, we can bring elements of native woodland landscapes into our own properties and reclaim this natural history. Our studio research shows that the ecological patterns of native woodland landscapes can be meaningfully reintroduced into urban environments. We created the Oasis Forest program to help restore biodiversity around existing Monument Trees and across neighbourhoods—by translating regional ecology into practical, site-specific design strategies for urban properties.
Through this approach, hardscape elements—such as patios, decks, and pathways—are designed as part of an integrated ecological system. When coordinated with native groundcover, shrubs, and trees, these interventions strengthen habitat, improve soil and water conditions, and reconnect fragmented landscapes.
The Oasis Forest program extends beyond individual properties. By working with our neighbors, we can extend this effort beyond our property lines to create Oasis Forests—a connected patchwork of native groundcover, shrubs, and trees that can support a neighbourhood and regenerate local biodiversity.
Through community-led initiatives, seasonal events, and neighbourhood collaborations that we initiate throughout the year, we help connect individual projects into a larger, living network—creating Oasis Forests: a patchwork of native plantings that supports urban wildlife, strengthens communities, and regenerates local biodiversity.
Interested in learning more? Get in touch to explore how the Oasis Forest program can support your property—or your neighbourhood.
Recent project
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Resources
Mokrycke, Lesia. Building Conservation Networks, Canada Council for the Arts, 2021
Mokrycke, Lesia. Monument Trees,
Canada Council for the Arts, 2021
Rainer, Thomas, and Claudia West. Planting in a Post-Wild World: Designing Plant Communities for Resilient Landscapes. Timber Press, 2015
Dunnett, Nigel, and Noël Kingsbury. Planting the High Line: The Design of a New York City Park and the Inspiration for the Garden of the Future. Timber Press, 2015
Mathur, Anu. Design in the Terrain of Water. Oxford University Press, 2005
McHarg, Ian L. Design with Nature. Natural History Press, 1969
Simard, Suzanne. Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest. Alfred A. Knopf, 2021
Wohlleben, Peter. The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate – Discoveries from a Secret World. Greystone Books, 2016
Tsing, Anna. The Mushroom at the End of the World: On the Possibility of Life in Capitalist Ruins. Princeton University Press, 2015
© 2035 by Lesia Mokrycke