Owner/Proprietor: Shaun Booth 

Address: 20725 Shaws Creek Rd, Alton, ON 

Web Site: inournature.ca 

Facebook Page: facebook.com/in.our.nature.gardens 

Most folks reading this will realize that this month’s native plant nursery profile is for my friend and co-author’s business. I’ve known Shaun Booth for several years now – originally as the organizer of the fabulous Facebook group Ontario Native Plant Gardening (a group that now has almost 40,000 members), then as the owner of In Our Nature, but more recently as a collaborator on our unbelievably popular book on native plants.  

Shaun started his nursery in 2018 for his own garden installation projects with a handful of word-of-mouth sales. He then officially opened a retail business in 2020.  Though the nursery is not typically open to walk-in business, they are open by appointment. After customers make an order through the website (inournature.ca), he will reach out to establish a pick-up date. Having said that, they do offer open-house days throughout the growing season where customers can show up and browse plants in person. Watch his website for details. 

When he started, In Our Nature carried about 70 species of true natives and some near natives. They currently have about 120 species. They do not sell nativars and they distinguish between the natives and near natives in the online store. 

You can get a variety of native annuals, biennials, perennials, shrubs and trees as well as ferns, grasses and sedges. Shaun often has some very interesting and unusual species growing, too. I’ve picked up a couple of plants there that I have yet to see anywhere else. 

Shaun starts most of his plants from seed that he either collects locally or buys from a reputable supplier. He also buys some of his plants from trusted wholesalers. The online store provides information on seed origin for locally collected seeds, too. 

Although Shaun is mostly self-taught about growing native plants, he does have Ecosystem management & Environmental technician diplomas from Fleming College in Lindsay. 

If you need more than just plants, In Our Nature provides natural garden design, installation and management services. They also provide custom garden design plans for clients who can do the installation themselves but need some help with the design/plant selection. 

Shaun is a past volunteer at the Mono Pollinator Garden. In Our Nature has been a sponsor of the Pollination Guelph symposium.