The Harriston and District Horticultural Society met on Oct. 20. President Margaret Reidt reminded everyone to hand in their record of volunteer hours.
Guest speaker Dr. Anne Morgan talked on Gardening with less water, known as Xeriscaping, from the Greek work xeros, which means dry.
The word was first used in Colorado where annual rainfall is minimal. Dr. Morgan gave several suggestions for conserving water. First, save rainwater in rain barrels, emptying the barrels before winter. Soaker hoses are efficient irrigating systems. Soil improvement conserves water and can be done by adding compost. Leaves make a good compost to hold moisture and can be covered with mulch to reduce evaporation.
Maintaining a green lawn in a dry year uses a lot of water. Lawn can be converted into gardens featuring the use of plants that do not require much water.
Sedum, pachysandra, juniper, euonymus, and ornamental grasses all require little or no watering, and rocks can be used as accents or as mulch. Pathways made of flagstones interspersed with thyme, Veronica, valerian, dianthus and soapwort can help reduce lawn area.
Lawns can be replaced with a pond, patio, waterfall, pathways, and sitting areas. Most plants that have gray leaves are draught tolerant, such as lambs’ ears, blue spiraea, Russian sage, ironweed and pokeweed. Other plants that do not require much water are day lilies, meadow rue, butterfly bush, red leaved rose, fairy rose, yarrow, red hot poker, canna lilies, fennel, smoke bush, salvia.
Native plants that thrive on less than ideal situations are columbine, blue eyed grass, prickly pear vactus, cup plant, compass plant, wild senna, and bea balm. Spring bulbs are all drought tolerant.
The annual general meeting will be held on, Nov. 17 in Harriston with a potluck supper at 6:30pm.
submitted by Mary Anne Connell
