s for apartment and condo dwellers who have a scarcity of floor space for large pots.

requires agility

Japt to unpredictable seasons

In response to the recent change
in weather, the nursery has moved all
colourful plants and herbs indoors,
perennials have been placed inside the
greenhouse and all other plants are
covered under blankets.

“We have to actually gather everything
up and shelter it, even though a lot of
the plants are hearty,” Hobbs said. “We
tremble with terror.”

Evan Perkins, who has worked for
Southlands Nursery for nine years,
admitted that climate change has a huge
impact on plants and their gardeners,
how they grow and when people garden.
With milder weather, planting enthu-
siasts, much like the plants themselves,
get confused and assume it’s time to start
gardening because ground is no longer
frozen and has no snow.

However, a sudden shift to a winter
weather pattern and the damage is done.

A cold strike and wind chill can burn the
leaves of tender growth, leaving a garden
empty and dead.

“We've got to educate people on what
to bring inside and what to put outside
tight now,” Perkins said.

While educating customers in the
nursery, Hobbs admitted that you really
have to “fly by the seat of your pants,”
and work with the weather and be smart.

Surprisingly, according to Hobbs, the
summer is when Vancouverites need to
adapt the most. With June to Septem-
ber producing little rain, xeriscaping,
also known as dry gardening, is a neces-
sity. People need plants that are drought
tolerant and can withstand a Mediterra-
nean-like summer.

“With a simple drive around Vancou-
ver, you can point out all the dead hedges
and other greenery because we no longer
live in a rainy place,” Hobbs said.

Pots are a great option for students with no outdoor space in their living
areas. Container gardening is an excellent alternative.

Large leaves are
ideal choice for
those who live in
low-light spaces
F petttssis Thomas Hos

said there are plenty of
friendly plants that students will

An orchid displays its vibrant colours. Southlands Nursery has a wide range
of flowers for their customers.

Percentage of land in B.C. with
a >170 day growing season by a >170 day growing season in

2039.

Percentage of land in B.C. with

have a hard time killing.

According to Hobbs, a healthy
plant doesn’t need to get in the way
of a busy student life — or a black
thumb. Whether you have a lot of
light in your apartment or low light
in your basement suite, it all comes
down to you.

Many plants are native to shaded
areas and function exceptionally well
with low light, he said.

In particular, Hobbs said that
many tropical plants and deciduous
azaleas are tolerant of low light and
minimal care.

If your space can provide a lot of
light, Hobbs said, then a larger leaf
size would be a good fit. A lower
light apartment is suitable for a plant
with smaller leaves. Always consider
the surface area of the leaves, and
how much photosynthesis is going
to be needed per leaf on your plant.

“The big leaves are like big facto-
ries going like, ‘Make it happen, and
if youre not going to make it happen
then they're going to fall off,” Hobbs
said. “You have think like a plant.”

However, Hobbs admitted that
there is nothing wrong in getting a
fake one.

Average monthly temperature
increase for B.C. by 2039.

L“j

Murray Powers waits patiently to help customers with their plant and planting needs. Education is essential in prepar-
ing customers to new climate realities.