Egan Davis: gardens that work

UBC’s Egan Davis will present Gardens that Work: Functional Garden Design at the Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden next Sunday Feb. 15 at 1 p.m.

The colourful and charismatic instructor of UBC’s horticulture program will help you see your garden with fresh eyes with theory, practice, anecdotes and humour. As a hands-on horticulturist, he speaks with experience in solving garden problems. This event is a fine way to greet the emerging season.

Tickets are on sale at the Garden at 5941 Mason Road in West Sechelt, at local nurseries and Sechelt Visitors Centre, $15 for Botanical Garden members or $20 for non-members.

Davis will explain how to think about the ways you intend to use your garden, from gardening with children to growing edibles to entertaining. What is the best place to put a fruit tree, favourite rose or compost box?

Plants have their own needs and growth patterns, and planning before making changes or even purchasing a tree or shrub can save you money and work. If you’ve ever planted a cute young tree only to have it outgrow its space and become a menace, you’ll appreciate understanding what information you need when you go to a nursery. Principles of design, especially how they apply to your space, may lessen your workload and improve your whole garden experience.

Davis’ presentation on dirt was so well received last February, the audience demanded the Garden book him again for this year.

Bring a notebook and a gardening friend — there will be much to discuss and record, and time for some questions too.

The Garden is open with winter hours from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday to Monday. For more information and events, see www.coastbotanicalgarden.org