Hey there, water-saving superstars! It’s me, Wayne Drop, your friendly neighborhood water droplet. I’ve got some big news, and I need your help. For the first time ever, we’re creating an official set of Water – Use It Wisely stickers, and guess what? Any Arizona 4th graders could be the artists behind them! That’s right! We’re inviting all Arizona …
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Spring is in the air, and so is the spirit of water conservation! This April, Water – Use It Wisely is gearing up for several exciting events that highlight the importance of water-saving efforts. A variety of activities – from Water Awareness Month to Earth Day to Arbor Day – means that there are plenty of opportunities to have fun …
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A water terminology guide to enhance understanding of this essential resource! The water world is complex, diverse, and rich in terminology, which can confuse anyone who isn’t immersed in it regularly. When discussing anything about water—such as water quality, sources and supplies, management and policies, and the delivery and quality of your water—you’ll likely encounter acronyms and terms that sound …
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Why we need books by local experts! One thing is certain when it comes to gardening books and magazines . . . gardening in the deserts of the Southwest is far different than in all other regions of the country. For that reason, most books, national magazines, and even those AP stories (that the local newspaper will occasionally publish) just …
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Holiday Wanderlust: Take Festive Nature Walks and Get Sustainable Inspiration As the temperatures cool down and the holidays approach, it’s time to gather with family and friends, including out-of-town guests. Going for a nature walk is a wonderful way to work off those scrumptious home-cooked holiday meals or gourmet dishes from your favorite neighborhood restaurants! You can find local botanical …
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The fall planting season is here! Temperatures are cooling down, making it a perfect time to replace your plants you may have lost during the record-hot summer, or replace your high-water-usage plants with water-thrifty ones. Find our favorite Water – Use It Wisely resources below: Water – Plant It Wisely: Our Ultimate Fall Planting Resource Put your gardening gloves and …
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“Now is an ideal time to start planning for the fall planting season and looking at options for transforming your yard.” Our most popular publication, Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert, has been relaunched. A refreshed and updated version is now available to help residents add some extra flower power by incorporating desert-appropriate, drought-tolerant plants into their yards to create …
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Why Fall Planting Rules! Spring is a wonderful time in Arizona, but in the low desert the season is very short and ends quickly with the intense heat of early summer. The garden centers and general theme for spring nationwide is, “now is the time to get those gardens and plants in”, when in many cases in the low desert …
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Monsoon Season in Arizona It’s July 25th in Mesa, and we are feeling hopeful with the prediction of having a whopping 40% chance of storms. In Arizona, the monsoon season officially runs from June 15 to September 30. Most summer storms don’t move in until July. So far in 2024, when consulting the experts, we’ve heard ‘drier than normal’ and …
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Rain Can Be Hit or Miss – Especially During Summer Monsoons A little red-headed girl once sang “The sun will come out tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow, there’ll be sun…” Since many areas in Arizona receive over 300 sunny days a year, the state certainly lives up to the sunshine in the song. But what about rainfall? Have …
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It’s summer in the desert… and it’s brutally hot! Many of our spring blooming plants are taking a rest. So, what can we expect to see blooming now? Turns out, there are three tough, heat-hearty plants that are perfect for the 4th of July! Check out these plants, having ‘hot fun in the summertime’ and offering blooms for your landscape …
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Living in the desert in Arizona, we are no strangers to extreme heat and sparse rainfall. As temperatures rise, so do health concerns. However, we can harness the limited rain the desert provides to build communities resilient to these challenges. One approach to achieving this is through “nature-based solutions,” which leverage natural systems to enhance both community health and watershed …
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