With this being World Water Week and spring officially here this week, today seems an ideal time for my first Gardening with Nature column for 2017.
There are an abundance of events and activities planned for the week to celebrate water and to further a discussion about wasting water, and how to avoid doing that. For details, go to the Okanagan Waterwise website at okwaterwise.ca.
The bottom line is that we are living in a semi-desert and could experience serious water shortages at any time if we use more water than is replenished by the 11 to 15 inches of annual precipitation we can expect each year.
These days we are bombarded by so many life-changing events that we may feel out of our control, however we can make a difference by how we personally use water.
Outdoor residential use accounts for 24 per cent of all water used in the valley. We can lead by example and reduce water use in our residential landscapes. Spring is a good time to begin.
The Okanagan Xeriscape Association website at okanaganxeriscape.org has many resources to help you make changes, including a searchable plant database of over 400 water-wise plants with 23 search categories; a photo gallery of before and after stories; details of the making of our unH20 Xeriscape Demonstration Garden in Kelowna and slide shows of the five theme gardens. There is also a resources page of books and gardens to visit and web links and information on events and classes.
I invite you to attend a Saturday workshop Introduction to the Seven Principles of Xeriscape class put on by Okanagan xeriscape specialist Eva Antonijevic. It includes practical information for making changes to an existing landscape as well as for creating a new landscape and for those who are new to gardening in the Okanagan. Photos are used to illustrate the principles of design and planning, soil improvement, practical turf areas, efficient irrigation, use of mulch, good maintenance, and appropriate plant selection.
Dates: Saturday, April 1 or May 13. Classes are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Details and registration information are on the Classes page www.okanaganxeriscape.org.
Gwen Steele is executive-director of the non-profit Okanagan Xeriscape Association.