On the Dry Side
The Okanagan Xeriscape Association Blog
Rhubarb– A Water-Wise Edible Perennial
Rhubarb is a low-maintenance water-wise edible perennial that will contribute nicely to your garden and your kitchen.
Add a ‘Living Mulch’ to Your Garden
Once established, living mulches will provide a maintenance-saving ground cover for years without needing to be ‘topped up’ every spring
Get the Most from your Perennials
The abrupt change to hot summer weather can be hard on plants. Flowers will fade more quickly. Now is a good time to do a midseason, major garden clean-up.
Lavender
Thriving in our hot dry summers, lavender blooms abundantly from mid-June for about four weeks, its flowers attracting butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
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...
Welcome to the Blog
Our blog is an opportunity to share information on how to garden with nature while conserving water in the Okanagan Valley.
Among other contributors, it includes “Gardening with Nature” articles by our Executive Director, Sigrie Kendrick, as well as articles by co-founder Gwen Steele.
As a group blog and forum, we welcome your contributions and comments and hope to create a blossoming community of xeriscape gardeners as well as a valuable archive of articles.
Welcome to the Blog
Our blog is an opportunity to share information on how to garden with nature while conserving water in the Okanagan Valley.
Among other contributors, it includes “Gardening with Nature” articles by our Executive Director, Sigrie Kendrick, as well as articles by co-founder Gwen Steele.
As a group blog and forum, we welcome your contributions and comments and hope to create a blossoming community of xeriscape gardeners as well as a valuable archive of articles.
Rhubarb– A Water-Wise Edible Perennial
Rhubarb is a low-maintenance water-wise edible perennial that will contribute nicely to your garden and your kitchen.
Add a ‘Living Mulch’ to Your Garden
Once established, living mulches will provide a maintenance-saving ground cover for years without needing to be ‘topped up’ every spring
Get the Most from your Perennials
The abrupt change to hot summer weather can be hard on plants. Flowers will fade more quickly. Now is a good time to do a midseason, major garden clean-up.
Lavender
Thriving in our hot dry summers, lavender blooms abundantly from mid-June for about four weeks, its flowers attracting butterflies, bees and other pollinators.
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...