A campaign to ensure sustained water for the Botanical Garden will be launched at the upcoming Grow the Garden Gala Dinner and Auction, 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Seniors Activity Centre in Sechelt.
The fundraising campaign, titled Well Worth It! débuts at the Gala and will continue as the Botanical Garden implements plans to dig a well and build a water distribution system to maintain the plant collection and Garden grounds.
According to president Gerry Latham, the Botanical Garden embraces three kinds of sustainability: financial, human resources and the physical garden. “Any good garden, public or private, ensures its plants get off to a strong, healthy start with just the right amount of water at the right time. In this era of changing climate, weather patterns, and restrictions, an important part of sustainability is a water strategy. Our urgent need is to dig a deep well and get necessary water potentially to all parts of the Garden.”
Latham emphasized that the Garden practises very careful water use. She pointed out that very few areas within its 40 acres are watered, and when required, watering is limited to basic necessity. The Garden’s Veggie Patch receives regular water, as do new plantings such as rhododendrons and native plants, which are watered for the first two summers after planting or being moved. Areas that support the Garden financially, such as plants for sale, plus the Pavilion Garden, are also watered. The Garden uses SCRD-managed water according to restrictions, supplemented by pumped pond water and run-off roof water stored in a large tank and rain barrels, Latham added. “Can you imagine how many full watering cans volunteers carried last summer to keep the plants alive? A few people with private wells even brought in garbage cans of precious water late in the season.”
In addition to launching the well-digging campaign, the Grow the Garden Gala promises an outstanding evening of fine food and drink, music by The Ken Dalgleish Trio, exciting live and silent auctions, raffles and general merriment. Host for the evening is broadcaster Cheryl MacKinnon; auctioneer extraordinaire is Ed Hill. For details, see the website: www.coastbotanicalgarden.org
Those interested in making a donation to the Well Worth It! campaign should contact the Garden by mail at: Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden, Box 1518, Sechelt, BC V0N 3A0. The Garden is open to visitors Friday to Monday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 5941 Mason Road, West Sechelt. Admission is by donation.
