Slow to start, the growing season is finally upon us. If you are like me, you have just finished replacing your roses, which didn’t make it through last winter. Although disappointing, it gave me an opportunity to browse through the varieties of roses at Art Knapp’s and start to visualize what I wanted my garden to be this year. If you, too, are in this process, check out the 2011 Greater Vernon Landscape and Garden Contest brochure. The contest uses judging criteria, including Overall Design, Use of Plants, Water-Wise and Maintenance and Condition; all of which can help you narrow down your plant list. You’ll want to plant a variety of different species with a creative mixture of colour form and texture, while ensuring that you have year-round appeal. To score points in the Water-Wise category, consult the Okanagan Xeriscape Association’s website (www. okanaganxeriscape.org) and check out their plant database. You can select a plant using any characteristic you want: bloom colour, bloom months, light, height or spread. Using this tool, you can head over to Swan Lake Nurseryland or Art Knapp Plantland with plant list in hand, ready to pick up your contest entry form along with what is needed to complete your winning garden. Contest entries are also available online at www.vernon.ca/cib, or by checking out the Vernon Communities in Bloom Facebook page. The deadline for entry is July 1. New this year is an edible garden category. So if flowers aren’t your thing, but your garden blooms with veggies, this year is your chance to show off! Communities in Bloom will also be at the Friday Farmers’ Market on June 3, so you can pick up your Garden Contest entry form there, or just stop by to get a free scoop of annual seeds to finish off that empty planter. Happy gardening!
Fred Lyall is The Morning Star’s longtime gardening columnist. This week’s column is written by members of The Communities in Bloom Committee.
