I know there are some here who will not agree with me, however. I have four large dogs. In my 18 years of having them, I have never had a flea problem. This goes for city and country living. I attribute it to two things. First, their diet. Two of them are on hypo allergic food, the other is on a very high quality one with no fillers etc. I've read lots that diet makes a huge difference when dealing with fleas. Second. I keep them clean. During the warm months, they get a bath about every 4 weeks, either by me or the groomer, depending on how dirty they get. I vacuum at least twice a week, and keep their bedding etc. clean by washing it at least once a week. My theory is not going to work for everyone. I use it because of horrible lower G.I. my dogs have experienced I've encountered with pills, collars and ointment. If your dog has an allergic reaction to fleas, other things will probably have to be done. But I do think what I'm doing helps lots as far as being preventive. SG

The detergent I make is a powder detergent. I grind up a bar of soap in the food processor (I sometimes grate it in the processor first and then process it into smaller pieces after that.) To that I add 1/2 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda and 1/2 cup Borax and process it all together. The bar soap I use is Fels-Naptha, but I've heard if you can't find that you can use others (Ivory, Zest, etc) with success. Washing Soda and Borax are in the detergent aisle at our store here in town. I usually make a triple-batch because that is what fits in the container I use for storing it. The last time I used a store-bought "natural" detergent, my daughter broke out in hives from it. We really like the homemade stuff. Two tablespoons for a large load. I believe if you google "homemade detergent" there is a way to make liquid too, but it is more time-consuming. This powder detergent is as easy as opening a bar of soap and measuring two other ingredients. Hope that helps!

On the NE side of the Avalon Peninsula, you are Canadian zone 5a or 5b which is a bit different from the same numbered zones in the US. Perhaps one of the other Canadians on the forum will do a rough translation of those into US zones so the rest of us can make some additional recommendations. All the ones I am suggesting are hardy to at least -20 F. Some of the wetland irises may work for you such as Iris versicolor (blue flag iris). Siberian iris, though not native, won't spread wildly in my experience, so it should be OK. If you like a grassy look, there are a large number of wetland sedges (Carex spp.) and the spiral rush Texas Ranger suggested should be fine, (Juncus effusus spiralis), but I am not sure that the others will be. There are probably some local rushes that will also work for you. Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) should be hardy enough for you. It has cheerful yellow early spring flowers. If you have any shady areas Osmunda regalis (royal fern) likes wet feet. Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower) and Lobelia siphilitica (great blue lobelia) should both be fine. Joe-Pye weed (might be called Eutrochium spp. or Eupatorium spp.), Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and Rosa palustris (swamp rose) are happy with wet feet. Any of the common types of Chelone (turtlehead), Cornus sericea (red-twigged shrub dogwoods), and Helenium (Helen's flower) grow in damp areas in the wild, so will be fine. All of the ironweeds (Veronia spp.) that I am familiar with like damp feet. One of my favorite wetland shrubs is Ilex verticillata (winterberry holly) which is deciduous and needs both male and female plants for berry production. Ilex glabra (inkberry) is evergreen, but the berries are dark and so not too ornamental IMO. Rhododendron viscosum (swamp azalea) and R. canadense (rhodora) are two rhododendrons that prefer wet feet, though most like it much drier. Both of them are deciduous. Rhododendron groenlandicum also likes wet feet and is quite short and evergreen. Most (maybe all?) willows, including some low-growing ones, are happy growing in damp to wet areas.

I've tried LOTS of green detergents. They could do an episode of Hoarders in my laundry room. Moderately hard midwestern water.. fairly sensitive to artificial scents. I do often use a small amount of STPP and sodium percarbonate or hydrogen peroxide bleach. One thing I noitce is that scents RARELY make it through the dryer cycle. Green detergents seem to vary by person/water much more than the 'Petro' products. Here's my experience: Great: Ecover: Zero powder (Very effective, but likes 2 rinses), liquid 2x (Alpine mint and zero) Charlie's- My old standby, powder for most anything; liquid for fleece and sportswear. Has removed garage floor black grease/dirt covered jeans for me Biokleen Premium Plus - Light citrus, works well Puracy - Good ingredients, ultra concentrated with a pump, good results ECOS with enzymes (Sam's Club) has done well for me after a few uses. Very economical Win Green. My best results on fleece/sportswear (with H202) Good: Biokleen: free and clear powder, liquid, coldwater, sports liquid. Ok cleaning. I like the scents in bottle, sport has a eucalyptus bite, doesn't seem any more effective than others from the brand Nellies. I know it's supposed to be similar to Charlie's, but hasn't worked quite as well for me OK: Caldrea Lavender Pine. $$$$$ Average cleaning, Smells decent, similar to Mrs Meyers (They're siblings) with the ingredients, but easier to use Method. Lavender Cedar. Works well, but has optical brighteners (yuck) Zum: Soap, not detergent. Makes it to OK mostly for the unique scents (discovered on my quest for a masculine laundry detergent..Cedar, pine mint, rosemary tea tree, patchouli, frankincense and Myrrh....). Not an exceptional cleaner with hard water..I like it for bed linen duty as a touch of the scent remains if you don't overdry. Meh: Mrs Meyers. Way too thick, terrible dribbling packaging. Lemon Verbena smell gives me a headache, average cleaning. Lots of strange ingredients in it Seventh Generation Ultra Powder Mandarin Sandalwood. Smells good in jar, like the ingredients, but doesn't smell clean out of washer. Vaska. Wanted to like this one..but still suds after 3 rinses and so-so cleaning. Green Fabric Softeners. Occasionally use for sheets. All work about the same, scent doesn't usually make it out of the dryer Vaska Lavender Caldrea Lavender Seventh Gen (free and clear and blue eucalyptus) Ecover Sunny Day. might work the best, but a headache scent for me