Fostering Collaboration to Create Commercial Conditions that Meet Xeriscape Demand

2015

$56,085

$20,000

OXA has continued its collaboration with nursery partners and the Make Water Work (MWW) program in year two implementation of the Waterwise Plant Labelling project. This included presentations to staff and customers at participating nurseries about the plant palette species and xeriscape in general to ensure knowledge transfer (e.g. proper watering techniques for maximum water savings) thereby increasing the potential for the project’s success in reducing water consumption. There was also an assessment of the project’s pilot run to make refinements to the point-of-sale marketing materials (ie. program information signage and take-home brochures), as well as additions/deletions to the plant palette & refinements to the program for the spring 2016 season.

Public outreach was strong with OXA sharing and promoting xeriscape water conservation knowledge at 46 presentations, collaborative projects, media interviews and community events throughout the Valley. In Kelowna, groups interacted with include four large strata complexes and their maintenance companies; Cool Arts/KRIS; Flower Power Kelowna Garden Tour; the OBWB AGM, 10th Anniversary Celebration, and UN World Water Day; Okanagan Master Gardeners; Kelowna Garden Club; Rose Valley Elementary School; Rutland Senior Secondary Environmental Science Class; and OXA seminars for members. The use of the plant database increased by 26% with unique visits to the plant database going from 45,000 in 2014 to 57,000 in 2015.