Xeriscaping is a sustainable landscaping approach that uses drought-tolerant plants to conserve water while still creating a beautiful outdoor space. The term comes from the Greek word xeros, meaning “dry,” and the practice is designed to minimize the need for irrigation and maintenance.

A key principle of xeriscaping is strategic plant placement. Plants that require more water should be positioned closer to the house; those that can thrive with little or no irrigation can be placed farther away, reducing the need for extra watering.

Many popular perennials fit perfectly into xeriscaped gardens, including hen and chicks, yucca, sedum, yarrow (Coronation Gold and Moonshine), sagebrush and lavender. These plants withstand dry conditions and add color and texture to the landscape.

Container plants and annuals, which, typically, need more water, should be kept near the house and a water source for easy maintenance. To embrace xeriscaping further, you can expand your patio, add stone pathways or replace sections of your lawn with drought-resistant shrubs and plants.

By incorporating xeriscaping principles, you can create a low-maintenance landscape that saves water and enhances the beauty of your outdoor space.

This vibrant salad, perfect for summer BBQs, is packed with fresh, grilled veggies and a zesty lime dressing.

Salad Ingredients:

4 ears of fresh corn, husks removed

1 red bell pepper, diced

1 avocado, diced

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

4 cups mixed greens

Optional:Grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for extra protein

Zesty Lime Dressing Ingredients:

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon honey (or your preferred sweetener)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

Preheat your grill to medium-high.Grill the corn on the cob for about 10–12 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred. Once cooled slightly, cut the kernels off the cob into a large mixing bowl.

Prepare The Vegetables:Add the diced red bell pepper, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion and chopped cilantro to the bowl with the corn. Gently fold in the diced avocado.

Make The Dressing:In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, cumin and honey. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Assemble The Salad:Place the mixed greens on a serving platter. Spoon the grilled corn and veggie mixture over the greens. Drizzle the dressing evenly over the salad, toss lightly, if desired, or serve as a layered dish.

Canadian retail sales increased by 0.8 per cent to $69.8 billion in March compared to the previous month. Compared to the same time last year, retail sales were up by 5.6 per cent. Furthermore, core retail sales, which exclude gasoline and automobile items, rose by 0.2 per cent month-over-month. In volume terms, adjusted for rising prices, retail sales increased by 0.9 per cent in March. Retail activity was up 1.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, while rising by 0.2 per cent in volume terms.

Retail sales in British Columbia were up 0.3 per cent in March from the previous month and rose by 4.7 per cent compared to the same time last year. In the CMA of Vancouver, retail sales were up 0.7 per cent from the prior month and were 6.4 per cent above the level of March 2024.

March's report marks the fourth consecutive quarterly increase in retail activity across the country. However, this report is unlikely to sway the Bank of Canada regarding its policy rate decision during its next meeting.  As global uncertainties continue casting shadows on the economy, economists will closely monitor next week's GDP report as an indicator of which direction the Bank of Canada will take in June. 

https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-retail-sales-march-2025

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

You’ve heard the saying, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.” It’s one of those bits of wisdom we tend to brush off — until life reminds us why it stuck around. In today’s fast-paced world, we often rush to experience results and define success by what we can measure. But that endearing phrase is a gentle nudge to slow down.

Each unhatched egg holds more than just potential; it holds a promise. It's not a guarantee; but an invitation.

A quiet chance to nurture something without demanding immediate proof that everything will eventually work out. Yet we find ourselves penciling in outcomes and charting the end before the beginning has had its moment.

Some of the most meaningful things in life unfold on their own time. Love, growth, creativity and healing don’t thrive under pressure or deadlines: instead, they need space, patience and trust. The kind of care that doesn’t rush, but simply shows up repeatedly.

What if we stopped counting and started tending? What if we stopped chasing certainty and started honoring the mystery? Life is a garden, not a scorecard — messy, unpredictable and often slow to bloom.

Maybe the real measure of success isn’t in how many chickens you end up with.

Maybe it’s in how tenderly you hold the unknown, how willingly you trust the process and how bravely you believe in beginnings — even the uncertain ones.

Canadian prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose 1.7 per cent on a year-over-year basis in April, down from a 2.3 per cent increase in March. Month-over-month, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI was down 0.2 per cent in April. The overall slowdown in headline CPI is largely driven by lower energy prices, catalyzed by the removal of the consumer carbon tax. The CPI ex-energy rose by 2.9 per cent in April. While shelter costs remain the main driver of inflation, grocery price growth has also outpaced the headline CPI over the past three months, with prices rising 3.8 per cent year-over-year in April. In BC, consumer prices rose 2.0 per cent year-over-year, down from 2.6 per cent in March. The Bank of Canada's preferred measures of median and trimmed inflation, which strip out volatile components, are at 3.2 per cent and 3.1 per cent year-over-year, respectively.

While April's CPI report saw inflation fall comfortably into the target range, several underlying trends illustrate upward pressure on prices across many sub-components beyond energy/gasoline. Moreover, the Bank's core measures of inflation rose above their target range, suggesting that  almost all deceleration in the headline CPI was driven by volatile components. Taken together, the Bank faces the decision of either overlooking these pressures in favour of a rate cut or holding its policy rate to defend against further price growth. All eyes shift towards next week's GDP report, which will better show how tariffs are beginning to affect the Canadian economy.

https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-inflation-april-2025

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.