The Project – listengarden

The Listen Garden Project

Celebrating Indigenous knowledge, prairie heritage, and community spirit through native flora and meaningful art

Features Flora

The Entrance Garden at Bow Valley Ranche celebrates the deep connection between indgenous knowledge and native Alberta flora. Each plant here carries a story of healing, tradition and sustainability living on the land

Where Heritage Meets Nature

Welcome to the Bow Valley Ranche Entrance Garden — a space where nature, history, and culture converge. Set at the threshold of Fish Creek Park, this garden honors the traditional plant knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and the beauty of native Alberta flora.

Each plant in this garden tells a story — of healing, food, ceremony, and connection to the land. Designed as a space for reflection and learning, the garden invites you to explore Alberta’s natural heritage through the lens of those who have walked this land for generations.

Plant Name

Botanical Name

Traditional Use

Larkspur

Delphinium elatum

Used by the Blackfoot as a light blue dye for quills. Toxic in large quantities.

Aster

Aster alpinus

Attracts pollinators. Used as love medicine and to treat fevers, headaches.

Western Blue Flax

Linum perenne

Seeds used for flour, petals for face wash, stems for nets.

June Grass

Koeleria macrantha

Seeds crushed for flour. Used as natural paintbrushes.

Shrubby Cinquefoil

Dasiphora fruticose

Roots were a food staple and treated inflamed eyes.

Snowberry

Symphoricarpos albus

Considered symbolic of spirits—never consumed.

Silverberry

Elaeagnus commutata

Used in Métis heritage for beads, blankets, and rope.

Indian Paint Brush

Castilleja miniata

Used as paintbrush and for shampoo.

Saskatoon

Amelanchier alnifolia

Staple food. Used in crafting and as a mild laxative.

Yarrow

Achillea millefolium

Stopped bleeding, aided postpartum recovery.

Purple Oat Grass

Schizachne purpurascens

Used for blankets, shelters, chewing gum.

Anise Hyssop

Agastache foeniculum

Tea for respiratory and GI relief; reduced blood pressure.

Little Bluestem Grass

Schizachyrium scoparium

Used by the Lakota for insulation in footwear and homes.

Blazing Star

Liatris ligulistylis

Roots treated heart issues, arthritis, and headaches.

Bearded Iris / Blue Flag

Iris germanica

Rhizomes relieved toothaches; poultices treated burns.

Sweet Grass

Hierochloe odorata

Burned in ceremonies for purification and blessings.

Wild Bergamot

Monarda fistulosa

Used in tea, to preserve food, and perfume horses.

Full Circle Sculpture

Introducing "Full Circle" by Michael Perks

This striking children’s sculpture features a soaring hawk and a swirl of rusted feathers, symbolizing vision, motion, and the future.

Hundreds of rusted feathers swirl into a purposeful circle. At the top is a hawk shining in the sun — taking in his view of the world and pointing the way to the future. The hawk portion of the statue is spectacular to see in person. It was fabricated by melting scrap aluminum, pouring it into sand to create ingots, welding those together, and grinding the final shape by hand. It catches light and shines brilliantly.

Full Circle is an existing statue that is ready to be installed immediately. The plan includes a large base to support the sculpture, which will not require deep footings. The base also serves to discourage climbing.

Foundation Concept

The proposed base is approximately 8 ft wide with a 1–2 ft ring around the bottom. Inside the ring, rocks hand-painted by Indigenous children will be placed, making the art piece highly interactive. This could be an evolving display with new painted rocks added annually. The painted rocks will be the responsibility of the Bow Valley Ranche project. The inner structure of the base will use hollow structural tubing for rigidity. It is wide enough to support the statue without the need for deep piles. After placement, the ring will be backfilled with loose rocks and dirt for added weight. Landscaping fabric will cover the backfill to prevent weed growth. The painted rocks will be displayed on top of the fabric.

Sacred Buffalo Sculpture

Buffalo Concept Statue – Buffalo Circle

This vibrant buffalo statue is a conceptual installation designed for the Buffalo Circle. Crafted with layered steel and vividly painted panels, the artwork showcases a bold landscape motif in rich purples, greens, and reds—symbolic of the natural prairies and night sky. White circular elements evoke stars or spiritual presence, while etched line art near the buffalo’s shoulder adds cultural storytelling. The fusion of raw metal and painted surfaces reflects both strength and artistic expression, celebrating Indigenous heritage and the buffalo’s sacred role in the land’s history.