LANDSCAPE DESIGN is North Vancouver resident Ingeborg Day’s forte, and she is always putting in a good word for native plants which she believes can be incorporated into any North Shore garden plan. NV’s ‘native plant lady’ NORTH VANCOUVER resident Ingeborg Day is known in garden- ing circles as “the native plant lady.’’ By BARBARA BLACK News Reporter And, oddly, when she appears at the door dressed in a deep, mossy green velvet skirt and vest with hair swept up in a bun, she does resemble a kind of elegant tendril. She sits down at a table brimm- ing with garden books, excited at the prospect of taiking about her favorite subject. ‘I’ve gone four years without a garden,”’ she says, adding good humoredly, ‘‘and the recipients of my frustrations are all the people in my (gardening) class!’” Day teaches a popular landscape design class at RecCentre Delbrook, in which she encourages the integration of native plants in gardens. ‘“We can achieve year- round color in the Pacific Nor- thwest with this acidic soil, the amount of rain we get, and our unique setting,” says Day, and native plants are a natural choice for carrying the garden through the seasons. Native wild plants can co-exist with exotics in the garden as long as the requirements of the plant are met. They can even be incor- porated in separate pianters or tubs to prevent them from ‘‘infr- inging’’ on the rest of the garden. Or, Day suggests, by shaping what is already there, create a woodland setting complete with ferns, salal, and moss-covered logs — no more struggling for the perfect golf course lawn. The vir- tue of a native garden is that it is low-maintenance. According to Day, many people are not familiar with indigenous plants (some even view them with disdain), and many people new to gardening overlook their innate beauty. She suggests getting to know them by engaging in that simplest of activities — walking. Also, by acquiring a_ basic botanical vocabulary, you can eas- ily ‘‘key in’’ on a plant and under- stand the Latinate mouthfuls in the plant identification guides. No armchair gardener, Day goes on regular nature walks, observing and recording various plants’ loca- tions, characteristics and growth seasons. She exhibits a kind of af- fection and respect for plants, which comes from years of careful botanical study. No matter what season, Day always takes time to observe: “My first friend (in winter), coming sometimes through the snow, is the skunk cabbage. Also the beautiful leaves of the salal and Oregon grape .... and in March the yellow woodland violets come out just past the bridge at Lynn Head- waters trail.** me LUXOR ——————-— . RENOVATIONS BATHROOMS and KITCHENS == Serving You Since ’69 b= eCABINETS eFIXTURES 1 153 West 3rd St., NVancouver *CULTURED MARBLE *COUNTER TOPS eTILES & FLOORING *SHOWER DOORS 17 - Friday. February 23, 1990 - North Shore News MOVING SALE! We would rather sell it than move it ... qDisplay models savings — Pay deposit now — available for pick up Feb. 28/90 Closet Accessories are priced to clear — While stock lasts NEWS photo Mike Waketleld 1093 Marine Dr., N.Van. 986-4263 CANADIAN BBX CLOSET She continues, ‘‘As we go on, we see the avalanche lilies and the wild bleeding heart. By May, the campions are out and by that time everything is competing for our at- tention.”* See Consider Page 18 SURPRISED AT KOW EASY IT Is/ install in most \\ your home—even your * basement A Kahrs “Fioat-in Instattation’’ SPECIAL pongsirie Soards is Easy, OAK BOHEME 5.95 No-Wax, Easy-Care Factory Finish Gives sq.ft. Long Lasting Beauty A DO-IT-YOURSELF ¢SHOWROOM *CUSTOM ‘ DESIGN ¢COMPLETE INSTALLATION & RENOVATION Choose from 5 Patterns and 9 Colors SALE ON THRU MARCH 9/90 OR WHILE QUANTITIES LAST! | _ FINISHING STi Bring your room measurements. FREE ESTIMATES fe 987-3055 HOME SHOW SPECIAL Pavilion Dining Groups S999” $899” 5859” includes base and glass plus your choice of fabric. 4 swivel chairs 4 arm chairs 4 side chairs 1480 Marine Dr. r North Vancouver 988-7328 Open 7 days fF BT Saga SS BCE Oo dE Ea te Rp POOR AE ES DY ge CES Be ED RETEST