New welcome signs at OXA Demonstration Garden
New welcome signs, with a bit of Okanagan Xeriscape Association history, were unveiled on Saturday, September 21st to celebrate the 15th anniversary of OXA at the UnH2O Xeriscape Demonstration Garden.
Installed by the City of Kelowna at the garden, the signs pay tribute to co-founders of the non-profit, Gwen Steele and Lisa Masini of Kelowna.
The unveiling also kicked off the 15th annual general meeting of the OXA following the third annual fall plant sale of drought-tolerant perennials.
Steele gave a talk highlighting the growth of the organization as successive drought years helped turn the attention of the public to the principles of xeriscape, which is a form of landscaping that results in lush and colourful gardens that use far less water than conventional landscapes.
Gwen Steele and Lisa Masini– Founders of OXA
Water conservation is particularly important in the Okanagan Valley, with its hot summers and arid climate, noted newly-elected president of the OXA, Sharon Spring. Both she and Steele pointed to the Okanagan Basin Water Board as key to the success of its demonstration gardens and educational programs, due to the financial support it has offered since the inception of the OXA.
The City of Kelowna offered space for the demonstration garden in front of the H2O Adventure and Fitness Centre on Gordon Drive and collaborates with OXA volunteers in maintaining the garden.
OXA also maintains an informative website and comprehensive plant database, free of charge for anyone to use, detailing the attributes of hundreds of xeriscape plants, from annuals to perennials, flowers to bushes, trees and vines.
Regular classes and workshops for the public and landscape industry professionals are also offered by OXA, with details on the website.
A blog called On the Dry Side also offers a wide variety of information on such topics as alternatives to the thirsty and flammable cedar hedge; ground covers; pollinator-friendly gardens; preparing the garden for winter; extreme weather gardening; the danger of invasive plants; plants for slopes and use of native plants.
Executive-director Sigrie Kendrick writes a regular column for local news media called Gardening with Nature. She also invites the public to join her and discuss xeriscaping at regular maintenance sessions at either the UnH2O Garden or across the lake at the West Kelowna Xeriscape Spirit Square Garden in the Westbank Centre Park, Fridays from 9-11 a.m. Called Dig with Sig, the location is announced each week on social media and the website.
Join in the conversation on Facebook or Instagram by looking up Okanagan Xeriscape, or become an OXA member for regular newsletters and bulletins about events, classes and updates on xeriscape.
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