A winter that never ends. A spring that never arrives. Dry summer heat and a soggy fall.
If you think seasonal extremes are tough on you, imagine being a hibiscus.
Linda Gilkeson is a gardening expert with a PhD in entomology — that's the study of insects — from McGill University and a bestselling author with a keen interest in the long-term effects of climate change on backyard gardens. Sunday at 2 p.m., she’ll be giving a talk on resilient gardening at the Inlet Theatre in Port Moody as part of the city’s celebration of Earth Day. She’ll be preceding that with a tour of gardens in Moody Centre that begins at 11 a.m.
Gilkeson says weird weather extremes that seem to come from climate change are becoming the norm rather than the exception, and they're putting pressure on traditional gardening practices.
“The number of extreme heat and cold events have increased 70% just since 2000,” Gilkeson told The Tri-City News from her home on Salt Spring Island. “Hardiness, drought resistance and tolerance of rapidly changing and extreme weather are important consideration in designing gardens and in choosing plants.”
Gilkeson said gardeners have to become particularly attuned to local weather forecasts so they can take preventive action to protect their gardens or at least mitigate the damage from events like heat waves and cold snaps.
“It will be essential to design water-conserving plantings, improve soil to hold more carbon and water, and to ensure drainage to handle higher rainfall events,” she said.
The heat can be a particular challenge for West Coast gardens that are used to more moderate climes. For instance, tomatoes can have trouble ripening because their red pigments don’t produce properly and green pigments from chlorophyll don’t break down. Flowers fall off before fruit has set because the warm temperatures sterilize pollen. A sudden relieving deluge of rain can cause ripening fruit like plums or melons to split open.
Gilkeson said it’s inevitable gardeners will have to adjust their techniques and their crops as the Earth’s climate heats up.
“Many landscapes, gardens and trees growing right now will not be sustainable or even possible."
EARTH WEEK EVENTS
The resilient gardens talk is one of several events in Port Moody to celebrate Earth Day Sunday, and Earth Week from April 21 to 29. They include:
• A city-wide garage sale Saturday, April 21 — more than 80 households will be participating. Go to portmoody.ca/garagesale for a complete list and map.
• Bats at night — a chance to learn about local bats and habitat with the Burke Mountain Naturalists, April 24, 7:30 p.m. at Rocky Point spray park.
• Learn how to co-exist with bears and other wildlife like cougars with experts from the BC Conservation Service, April 25, 7 p.m. at the Inlet Theatre.
• April 25 and 26, from 10:30 to 11 a.m., Port Moody public library will be hosting storytime and crafts with an Earth Day theme.
• Burke Mountain Naturalists will be leading an informative walk to learn about local birds on April 29 from 9 to 11 a.m. starting at Old Orchard Park.
