Leaf Ninjas

When they call, we answer. The City of Calgary City of Calgary and KBL needed a specialized team to quickly pull together over 14,000 native plants for 13+ stormwater ponds.

Stormwater ponds are essential city infrastructure. They catch runoff, oil, salt, sediment, and more from roads, roofs, and businesses before it reaches rivers and creeks, and slow down flooding when storms hit.

The vegetation is what makes them work. It filters and cleans the water, creates habitat for birds, reptiles, and other animals, and helps cool our communities. And yes, it’s beautiful too.

We’re proud to be sending plants grown right here at Leaf Ninjas native plant nursery to support the City of Calgary’s Urban Forestry Program.

These plants are heading into the city to grow the urban canopy and support Calgary’s afforestation goals. More trees and shrubs mean more shade, cooler streets, and a smaller heat island effect through the summer. They also add habitat for urban wildlife and make neighbourhoods greener block by block.

From nursery to planting site, we’re glad to be part of that work.

From bare ground to new growth.
Swipe to see the transformation!

These before-and-after photos capture the power of ecological restoration in Deadman Valley, where we had the opportunity to work with the Skeetchestn Indian Band and the (tagged Fisheries Commission) on willow planting and salmon habitat restoration.

Planting native willows is about more than bringing green back to the landscape. As these willows establish, their roots help stabilize streambanks, reduce erosion, and improve water quality. Over time, growing vegetation also provides shade and helps keep stream temperatures cooler — creating healthier conditions for salmon and other aquatic life.

Restoring riparian areas like this helps rebuild the connection between healthy vegetation, healthy waterways, and healthy salmon habitat.

It’s amazing to see how a restoration site can transform over time — one plant, one root, and one season at a time.

Want an invasive bouquet?

These plants might look beautiful at first glance, but beneath their pretty flowers or lush foliage, they’re causing serious damage to our local ecosystems. Invasive speciesspread aggressively, outcompete native plants for sunlight, water, and nutrients, reduce biodiversity, alter wildlife habitat, and caneven impact soil health and water systems.

Removal methods:
• Hand-pull young plants, making sure to remove the entire root system.
• Dig out established plants when possible.
• Bag and dispose of invasive plants in the garbage or your local w**d disposal drop off —don’t compost them, as many can regrow or spread from seeds and plant fragments.
• Clean your boots, tools, and equipment after working in infested areas to avoid spreading seeds.
• Replant the area with native species to help restore habitat and prevent reinfestation.

Every invasive plant removed is another opportunity for native plants, pollinators, birds, and other wildlife to thrive. Small actions add up, and together we can help protect our natural spaces.

Have you spotted any invasive species lately? Check your local and provincial invasive/noxious species list and share your finds in the comments!

Ever heard of prairie wave erosion? Well, it’s real.

This past week, we wrapped up our stormwater pond restoration project in Airdrie!

We started by installing concrete matting around the perimeter of the pond and securing it in place. Next, we dug trenches for our fascines, followed by installing live stakes through the concrete matting. To complete the restoration, we planted a diverse mix of native species along the upper bank and seeded the surrounding area to encourage long-term vegetation establishment.

Every step of this project was focused on giving the site the best chance for long-term success. We’re looking forward to seeing the native vegetation establish over the coming seasons and watching the restoration take shape.

Today we’re celebrating not only this beautiful country we call home, but also 14 years of Leaf Ninjas and the incredible journey that has brought us here. These photos take us right back to the very beginning of Leaf Ninjas—a reminder of where it all started and how far we’ve come.

Over the past 14 years, we’ve had the privilege of working across many landscapes and communities, restoring ecosystems and caring for the places that make Canada so special. Along the way, one of the greatest gifts has been the relationships we’ve built with Indigenous communities, Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and partners who have generously shared their knowledge, perspectives, and deep connection to the land.

Their teachings continue to remind us that restoration is about more than planting native species or reclaiming disturbed landscapes—it’s about respect, stewardship, reciprocity, and understanding that we are all responsible for caring for the land for future generations. We are grateful for every opportunity to listen, learn, and grow, and we recognize that this learning is ongoing.

To us, being Canadian means celebrating the incredible beauty and diversity of this country while continuing to build meaningful relationships, learning from one another, and doing our part to leave the land healthier than we found it.

To every member of the Leaf Ninjas team—past and present—thank you. Your passion, hard work, and commitment have shaped who we are today. We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, the opportunities we’ve been given, and the impact we’ve made together.

Here’s to 14 years of restoring landscapes, building relationships, and continuing to grow. We’re excited for what the future holds.

Happy Canada Day! 🧡

This past May, we completed the installation of willow and poplar fascines at Jim Uffelmann Dog Park.

These bundles of live branches were placed in erosion channels (rills) throughout the site to help slow down water, reduce soil loss, and stabilize the landscape. As the willow and poplar begin to grow, their roots will help hold the soil together and strengthen these areas naturally.

We take pride in delivering nature-based solutions that work with the environment to create lasting results. Projects like this help prevent erosion, improve drainage, and keep valuable community spaces healthy and resilient for years to come.

irrigation

Our recent work in Skeetchestn building brush mattresses is a great example of simple, low-impact restoration in action.

Brush mattressing is a restoration technique where live willow and poplar cuttings are layered tightly along damaged streambanks, partially buried, and secured in place so they can root directly into the soil. As the cuttings grow, they help hold the bank together, reduce erosion, slow water flow, trap sediment, and bring riparian areas back to life naturally over time.

Big thanks to the community members and partners making this work possible — Skeetchestn Natural Resources, Urban Systems, and 💚

Spring 2026 harvest complete!

Our team has wrapped up this season’s collection of willow and poplar cuttings / live stakes across Alberta and B.C. We collect the dormant cuttings for upcoming restoration projects and our native plant nursery.

We use dormant live stakes to insert into riverbanks, which then rapidly establish a dense root system and canopy to support bank stability, improve water quality, and help rebuild habitat in disturbed and sensitive areas.

A big thank you to our crew for the long days and hard work in the field. Now, onto the next stage of bringing these sites back to life.

This Earth Day, we’re reminded that ecological restoration is more than a service — it’s a commitment to the land that sustains us all.

Every native plant we reintroduce, every wetland we help revive, and every habitat we restore brings us closer to a healthier, more resilient planet. Nature has a remarkable ability to heal when given the right support, and we’re proud to work alongside it.

One of our core values at Leaf Ninjas is “We have an affinity for Nature”. Guided by this, we are grateful to share our passion with amazing individuals and organizations who are equally committed to making a positive impact in the different ecosystems and communities we work within.