In 2021 the District of Kitimat began the process of installing perennial plants into several of its greenspace areas, recognizing that the annuals normally planted required significant work.

Perennials - such as lilies, peonies, catmint, coral bells, goldenrod, hostas, bellflower, daisies, ornamental grasses, sedums and many more - provide a greater variety of size, colour and texture, and are far more resistant to heat and drought, among other benefits.

Our horticulture team has worked extremely hard over the last year to accomplish the following:

• Distribute nearly 200 yards of bark mulch throughout our gardens, reducing weeding and watering by approximately 75 per cent

• Planted hundreds of perennials and shrubs at various parks around the community

• Created new gardens around Riverlodge through a BC Hydro Community ReGreening Grant

• Switched to self-watering hanging baskets

• Planted two dozen new trees around town

• Cemetery improvements, including the construction of a retaining wall and new plantings

• Reduced our use of annuals by 75 per cent with further reductions still to come

As we move forward, the labour savings created from this transition will allow our horticulture team to expand our scope, make further improvements to our green infrastructure and improve the overall standard of care throughout the community.

There is still a ways to go. Perennial gardens take time to reach their potential - there’s a saying that “the first year they sleep, the second year they creep, the third year they leap.” Together, let’s enjoy watching our gardens learn to leap!

 

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