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News & Events

Plant of the Month: Desert Milkweed – Fit for a Queen and Other Royals

June 9, 2025

Botanical Name Asclepias subulata Common Names Desert Milkweed, Jumete, Rush Milkweed, Reed-stem Milkweed Habitat / Range Desert milkweed is often found along desert washes and sandy flats, and sometimes on rocky hillsides in lowlands up to 2,500 feet.  It will settle into disturbed soils, so can be found along roadsides as well. The range of desert milkweed extends from western …

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Desert Milkweed Plants

A Splash of Art, A Drop of Conservation – Wayne Drop’s Sticker Contest Recap

May 27, 2025

      Hey friends! Wayne Drop here – your favorite water-saving hero with some exciting news.This spring, I got to be the star of the 2025 “Save Water with Wayne Drop” Sticker Contest, and let me tell you… I was totally blown away by the amazing designs from fourth graders all across Arizona!         A Flood …

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Do You Have a Water Leak? Well, I Did!

May 15, 2025

Large Water Bill?  Imagine my surprise when I opened my water bill to discover that my household water use went from 3,000 gallons to 7,000 gallons! To put this in perspective, an in-ground small swimming pool holds approximately 10,000 gallons of water. The first step I did to determine if I had a leak was to make sure nothing inside …

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Enter the ‘Save Water with Wayne Drop’ Sticker Contest

March 27, 2025

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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April = Celebrations of Nature & Water

March 17, 2025

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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Breaking Down Water Terminology: A Glossary for Everyday Use

February 20, 2025

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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Perfect for Gift Giving: Our Top Desert Gardening Books

December 13, 2024

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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Gardening Books

Explore Arizona’s Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens

November 12, 2024

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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Fall Planting with Water – Plant It Wisely

September 12, 2024

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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Rediscover the New “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” for Fall Planting Preparations

September 3, 2024

“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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Fall is the New Spring for Planting

August 30, 2024

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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It’s Monsoon Season. What To Do When a Storm Hits

July 26, 2024

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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Save your trees from monsoon damage