The 2021 Barriere Blooms project will be focusing on encouraging area gardeners to plant drought tolerant plants into their flower beds and garden containers,” says District of Barriere Councilor Donna Kibble.
“Residents and businesses are encouraged to plant their gardens to show resilience, and planting drought tolerant plants will allow us to show our togetherness and resourcefulness.”
Drought tolerant gardening is called xeriscaping, the practice of designing gardens and landscapes to reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation. This includes the use of water efficient plants, a limitation of lawn turf to essential areas only, efficient irrigation, soil amendments, and the use of mulches. Xeriscaped landscapes need little or no water beyond what the natural climate provides, and this practice is becoming more and more popular as people learn new ways to create gardens while conserving the precious resource of water.
Barriere Blooms contest categories include:
• Best Business: Local merchants are encouraged to plant fruit and vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and drought tolerant plants outside their businesses. The winning entry will receive a Barriere Blooms certificate and bragging rights.
• Kid’s Garden: Teach a child how to plant a garden. Children must plant and care for their garden during the summer. The winning entry will receive a cash prize and bragging rights.
• Selfie Diary with Best Resident Gardening Project: Participating residents will plant fruit, vegetables, edible flowers and herbs, and drought tolerant plants into containers, planter boxes, hanging baskets, or garden plots outside their residences. The gardener is required to take five (5) selfie photographs with the container during the summer to show its progress. The winning entry will receive a cash prize and bragging rights.
• Best Council Member Planter: Members of District of Barriere council will plant drought tolerant plants in the cedar planters located in Fadear Park. The winning entry will receive an Award Certificate and bragging rights.
Entry forms will soon be available on the District of Barriere website at www.barriere.ca.
Completed entry forms can then be dropped off to the district office in person at: The Ridge, 4936 Barriere Town Road by placing in the available drop box; or email to: inquiry@barriere.ca.
“More information will be coming in the next couple of weeks,” says Kibble, “and we will be setting up a Barriere Blooms Facebook page so we can post tips and answer your gardening questions. You will also be able to post pictures on the Barriere Blooms Facebook page to show us your progress. Best of all, if COVID-19 co-operates, we are hoping to have our judges attend in person when judging the gardens. The winners will be announced in August.”