The OXA Blog
Get the Most from your Perennials
Early Summer Maintenance Tips Gaillardia ‘Burgundy’, Salvia ‘East Friesland’, and Achillea ’Moonshine’ will all repeat bloom if deadheaded. Photo and post by Gwen Steele, co-founder of OXA With the unusually wet, cool spring, plants have flourished and bloomed...
Lavender
Article and Photo by Gwen Steele– Photo: The fragrant pathway border of Lavender ‘Grosso’ provides an invitation to rest and enjoy the Centennial Garden off Richter Street at St. Michael’s Cathedral. Three blooming feather reed grass (Calamagrostis ‘Karl Foerster’)...
Reduce Maintenance by Removing Noxious Weeds
Article and Photo by Gwen Steele– One of the biggest causes of escalating landscape maintenance tasks is the failure to remove weeds before they set seed or establish extensive root systems. I discovered an infestation of Blueweed on the edge of a downtown gravelled...
Additional Commentary on Invasive Plants
Article and Photos by Mark Godlewski– Gwen’s article on Removing Noxious Weeds is very interesting and helpful. I have done a bit of research to dig out more information. The links that she provides are to a couple of older pamphlets, but the Invasive Species Council...
Planting Tips
Article by Gwen Steele– The following is information I put together years ago for my nursery customers and now use for my classes. With the hot, dry springs we have these days, it’s more important than ever to follow good planting procedures to ensure success. If you...
Ornamental Grasses
The following is an excerpt from the Blue Stem website. This site was put together by Jim Brockmeyer and Muriel Neale as part of a nursery business they were running in Christina Lake, BC. Both have now retired, but their excellent website lives on with funding for...
Welcome to the Blog
Our new blog is an opportunity to share information on how to garden with nature while conserving water in the Okanagan Valley.
As a group blog and forum, we welcome your contributions and comments and hope to create a blossoming community of xeriscape gardeners well as a valuable archive of articles.