I will focus my columns over the next four weeks on plant combination ideas for different garden themes, using plants available for purchase at the upcoming Okanagan Xeriscape Association香蕉视频直播檚 plant sale, April 30, 9 a.m. to noon, at the unH2O Garden, 4075 Gordon Dr., in front of the H2O Aquatic Centre.
This week is about ornamental grasses and long-blooming, pollinator plants. All plants mentioned here need some supplemental water during hot, dry weather.
Ornamental grasses are one of the lowest maintenance plants, requiring only to be cut down to four to six inches above ground by spring.
There are two types of grasses. Cool season grasses like feather reed grass (Calamagrostis Karl Foerster) come up early in spring and bloom early summer. Warm season grasses like switch grass (Panicum) emerge later in spring and bloom at the end of summer/early fall.
Both reach four to five feet when in bloom.
Blue gramma grass (Bouteloua gracilis) is an attractive, fine-textured, short grass that blooms in June.
All are clump-forming.
Always check the species of grass you are buying to make sure it is not a running grass, like sand dune grass or ribbon grass. These are useful for erosion control but a weedy nightmare in a garden.
With its grass-like leaves, the dwarf, long-blooming daylily 香蕉视频直播楽tella de Oro香蕉视频直播� is a good compliment to grasses.
Rudbeckia 香蕉视频直播楪oldsturm香蕉视频直播� and Echinacea 香蕉视频直播楳agnus香蕉视频直播� are sturdy, long-blooming perennials that add a colourful accent to grasses.
Their black seed heads add interest to the winter garden and food for birds.
For early spring colour in this garden, I suggest you use spring bulbs.
Snowdrops, winter aconite, crocus, grape hyacinth to early, mid, and late narcissus will provide a very colourful spring garden.
The dying bulb foliage will be hidden by the emerging perennials and grasses.
Dwarf tulips with variegated leaves look great for long before and after they bloom. They are deer candy so avoid if you have deer visitors.
Dianthus 香蕉视频直播楤rilliant香蕉视频直播� is an evergreen spring bloomer with dark pink flowers in May. It can be used as a small ground cover.
In May and June, the soft yellow blooms of 香蕉视频直播楳oonshine香蕉视频直播� yarrow make a vivid combination with the purple/blue blooms of either Salvia 香蕉视频直播楥aradonna香蕉视频直播� or Salvia 香蕉视频直播楨ast Friesland香蕉视频直播�.
These all have a repeat bloom in late summer.
We will have a few pots of the rugosa roses 香蕉视频直播楬ansa香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播楤lanc de Coubert.香蕉视频直播� They bloom heavily in spring and fall and sporadically through summer.
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There is still space to register for my two xeriscape night classes April 14 and 21 or May 4 and 11, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the St. Michael and all Angels Cathedral Hall, 608 Sutherland Ave.
Cost is $50/ person or $90/couple from same household. Register at okanaganxeriscape.org or call 250-762-6018.
