City and UBC Sponsor Native Plant Sale

As part of Backyard BiodiverCity Week in Vancouver April 3-9, the City of Vancouver
and the University of British Columbia are sponsoring the second annual Native Plant Celebration and Sale:

Sunday, April 9, 2000 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
UBC Botanical Garden
6804 S.W. Marine Drive (at 16th Avenue)

This event will bring together eight nurseries from the region and feature more than 150 species of native plants. There will be exhibits and displays of ecological practices that promote water conservation, tours of the UBC Native Garden, and a large public sale of native plants. Vancouver residents will also be able to buy 75-gallon rain barrels for $56.

This celebration is a cooperative event organized by the UBC Friends of the Garden and the NPSBC Native Plant Society of British Columbia, with the support of the B.C. Landscape and Nursery Association, and the City’s Waterworks Design Branch.

According to Jeff Smyth, Water Conservation Analyst for the City, the use of native plants and ecological landscaping practices promotes an awareness of the need to conserve water. "During the summer, up to 40 per cent of the water used in Vancouver is for outdoor watering. Residents can help reduce water consumption by using native plants adapted to the city’s dry summer conditions".

Also during the week, the Vancouver Museum is opening a new exhibit called "Backyard BiodiverCity" on April 6 that features a demonstration native landscape in the lower level courtyard. Residents can find out more about ecological landscaping at the City of Vancouver/City Farmer WaterWise Garden at 2150 Maple Street (at 6th Avenue).