Owner/Proprietor:  Sarah Smeekens 

Address: 7705 Kennedy line, Thedford, Ontario 

Web Site: Thedfordnativeplants.ca 

Facebook Page: Thedford Native Plants 

I have been purchasing plants from Thedford Native Plants since before it was called this – it used to be called Auxsable Forestry and was a natural offshoot of Jess Smeekens’ forestry consulting business. Eventually Jess got too busy trying to operate both businesses and turned over the native plant nursery to her sister Sarah. 

The nursery officially opened in 2015 and they now carry at least 100 different species of annuals, biennials, perennials, shrubs, vines, trees, ferns and grasses. And you won’t find any non-natives or nativars in the selection – they’re all true native species. I’ve even found a couple of hard to source species here. 

Sarah (with occasional help from her sister) collect seeds locally, but they also buy seeds from other sources and even buy plants from a variety of suppliers so that they can provide a broad selection to choose from. Some of their plants are also plant rescues from development sites.  

Jess has an Honour’s Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Forestry while Sarah is mostly self-taught from working in the industry and around their nursery. 

Thedford Native Plants is nestled in the community of Lambton Shores, tucked behind Stoney Point and just up from Port Franks. and is open in the spring and fall. Their hours are posted on Facebook and on their website. When they are not open you can always email an order in for pick up. The nursery is a little tricky to find the first time you go there (I drove right past it the first time I went), but once you know where it is, it’s easy to get to.  

Thedford Native Plants also gets involved in their community – they have provided the plants for the beds in downtown Grand Bend and have been involved in several community initiatives. They have given talks about native plants to multiple community groups such as Rotary, as well as to horticultural clubs and grassroots community groups. 

When I asked Sarah what else she would like folks to know about TNP, she said “We take pride in serving our community and establishing native groves on previously altered land, and in providing stewardship advice to our patrons.” 

This spring, take a trip to Thedford and check out this lovely little native plant nursery.