WHO TO CALL:

Community Editor
Andrew McCredie

Hane and Garden Editor
Layne Christensen

985-2131 (147) 985-2131 (118)

Roy |
- Jonsson

We ree

gee! nee

pale:

sow it grows

- ANCOUVER AND
the southwest corner
of B.C. is often
- referred to as Lotus Land or

_*-' the Banana Belt by eastern-

ers, paztly in derision and
: partly out of jealousy.

ae When comparing Vancouver to

areas with a similar latitude, these
areas appear to have a much milder
climate. At first glance they would
appear to have a sub-tropical cli-
mate if you based your decision on
the abundance of palm trees and
sub-tropical looking plants. Places
that come to mind are western
Scotland, southern Ireland, south-
em Germany. Switzerland and
New Zealand.

For a number of years, a small
group of determined gardeners has
been breaking the commonly
accepted rules of plant hardiness
and pushing the old limits north
for a whole series of plants. Oddly.
some of their success may be due
to environmental pollution and the
build-up of greenhouse gases.

The Pacific North West Palm
and Exotic Plant Society is a chap-
ter of the International Palm ;
Society in California. This enthusi-
astic group has been successful
introducing hardy palms, half

hardy bananas and similar plants to |

Friday, June 30, 1995 — North Shore News — 13

STORIES

ONE GARDEN trend that.is gaining in popularity is the
to see in North Shore gardens a small fish pond or lily-

the focal area. Some palm trees
now produce hardy, home grown
seed.

Another interesting addition to
local gardens will be coming from
New Zealand. The native plants of
Kiwi-land have evolved in isola-

‘tion and are quite different from

our local or imported species from
Europe. One of the most interest-
ing groups of plants in N.Z. are the

LS Mee.
man, Reg. 12.49
ee

tree ferns. They give the landscape
a distinctive tropical appearance
that borders on the primeval. Not
al) N.Z. plants would be hardy in
our area, but some of them will
give our gardeners and landscapers
a greater choice

Peter Anson, a native kiwi, and
long-time Sunshine Coast resident.
has recently begun importing
native plants of his homeland. The

ES
Fatt eh oe TOC A ate
eee en
¥ pe ase Re Boks

pe
Set

NEWS photo Terry Peter:

use of water features. It is not uncommon
pad poo! worked into the garden setting.

plants being shipped to Canada are
being removed from construction
sites where plants would ordinarily
be destroyed. What would tradi-
tionally have been burned will
soon be. available to local garden-
ers.

Tender and half-hardy plants
can either be lifted and stored ina

See Ponds page 14