LEAH LAPALME

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studio_bleu et orange
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        2017 - 2023
The Moment I Decided to Garden for Wildlife March 15, 2025

A graphic of studio_bleu et orange
Two years ago, while thinking about what more I could do for wildlife beyond making artworks as an artist, I saw a bumblebee at the pépinière. It was an expert at collecting pollen from foxglove flowers, and I had never seen anything like it. It grasped the edge of the petals, turned its body, and went inside the flower. It was small yet so smart, knowing exactly what to do. In that moment, I knew I had to do more to support local pollinators.

At the same time I had a question: How could this bumblebee be an expert on this European flower? I witnessed this scene in Québec where I live, so I thought there must be some native tubular flowers in this region that have evolved convergently with foxgloves.

While thinking about this and walking around, I started noticing how many broad, empty lawns there were, including my own. Habitat loss is one of the biggest reasons for biodiversity loss, and yet, I saw so many places where we could be sharing space with local species. That’s when I realized, I should start learning how to garden. How to grow plants.

studio_bleu et orange, this is the beginning of my journey to share what I‘ve learned about native plants of Eastern North America and how to create spaces that blend beauty with habitat, where both people and local species can feel at home.