I have had the pleasure of visiting many beautiful gardens recently.

While attending the FlowerPower Garden tour, and as a judge for Communities in Bloom, l have been overjoyed to notice the trend of fewer turf-grass lawns.Traditional turf-grass lawns have long been a symbol of suburban living throughout the valley, but they come with a hefty environmental price tag in this semi-arid region.

A typical lawn requires approximately 2.5 to five centimetres of water per week during the growing season just to maintain that pristine green carpet in a region that receives only 30 to 38 centimetres of annual precipitation.

Beyond the immediate water consumption, turf grass lawns demand significant resources throughout the Okanagan's growing season. They require frequent watering, fertilization, pesticide applications and regular mowing, all of which contribute to environmental stress and increased household expenses.

In the Okanagan's dry climate, maintaining traditional lawns can account for 60 per cent of residential water usage during peak summer months, placing enormous strain on local water systems during the region's driest period.

The environmental impact also extends beyond water consumption. Turf grass often requires synthetic fertilizers and pesticides that can leach into groundwater systems and contribute to nutrient pollution in nearby waterways. Additionally, frequent mowing is a........

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