Adding Life to Your Outdoor Space

If you’re like me, you’ve probably been asking yourself what would liven up your outdoor space this summer? While there are many ways to achieve this, an obvious one is to plant some beautiful flowers. Although if you struggle with tending to said plants like I do, (being a busy Realtor and all!) then you’ve come to the right blog!

I thought it might be advantageous to look into plants that are easy to maintain, both because they will flourish in our Okanagan climate, but also because they are found naturally here. We are pretty fortunate to have a large selection of beautiful plant life here!

During my search for such plants, I found a great resource for information on native Okanagan plants, which you can check out for yourself at Okanagan Xeriscape (Xeriscape is a word by definition that refers to a landscape design that requires little to no irrigation or other maintenance – Which is right up my alley!) If you are interested in learning more about our local plant life or finding the perfect plant for your outdoor space, this database is a great resource, both for finding great plants, as well as where you can purchase them.

Here are some of my favorite finds from the database:

Double Bubble Mint (Agastache Cana)
Perennial Blooms Jul – Oct
Height 24” – 36” Spread 16” – 24”
Attracts Humming Birds & Pollinators Repels Mosquito’s
Requires  Full or Partial Sun

 

Butterfly Weed (Asclepias Tuberosa)
Perennial Blooms Jul – Aug
Height 12” – 24” Spread 12” – 24”
Attracts Pollinators
Requires Full Sun

 

Balloon Flower (Platycodon Grandiflorus)
Perennial Blooms Jun – Jul
Height 24” – 30” Spread 12” – 24”
Attracts Butterflies
Requires Full or Partial Sun

 

Alpine Skullcap (Scutellaria Alpina)
Perennial Blooms May – Aug
Height 8” Spread 12”
Attracts Humming Birds, Self Seeding
Requires Full Sun

 

Bertram Anderson Stonecrop (Sedum ‘Bertram Anderson’)
Perennial Blooms in August
Height 4” – 6” Spread 12” – 18
Attracts Pollinators
Requires Full or Partial Sun

 

I’m looking forward to adding some colour to my outdoor space this year, I hope you are too!