Archive for “Xeriscape Landscaping” Category

News & Events

PLANTING THE RAIN: HYDRATING ARIZONA ONE YARD AT A TIME

August 8, 2016

Envision your dream landscape. Does it have a water-harvesting rain garden, rockwork and basins overflowing with flowering native plants? How about a greywater system feeding a fig tree or a humming pollinator garden? Once you’ve got the image—how do you bring it to life? Join Watershed Management Group (WMG) for the coolest educational series in Central Arizona to learn how …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH: CAESALPINIA OR BIRD OF PARADISE

July 26, 2016

Caesalpinias make the landscape come alive with color. Their large bright flowers provide vibrant color for long periods of time. The shades of yellow, fiery red, and orange contrast with the feathery foliage. Commonly called bird of paradise, they range in size from medium shrubs to small trees. They thrive in the desert heat and can survive on little supplemental …

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HOW TO SAVE WATER FROM “THE CLOUD”

July 19, 2016

I have a confession to make – I have a love-hate relationship with information technology. In the era of the “smart” meter, the “smart” home, and the “smart” device, there are times that I have trouble keeping up with its relentless pace. However, what I notice about my personal use of “Information Technology” is its reflection of my life – …

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DRAB TO FAB BACKYARD REHAB: AND THE WINNER IS…

June 2, 2016

In the Spring of 2016, Water – Use It Wisely, along with our fabulous promotional partners, including Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply, the Arizona Nursery Association and its Plant Something campaign, and the Arizona Landscape Contractors Association, gave away a backyard makeover through a promotion with ABC15 TV. A remarkable 10,901 of you entered to win the Drab-to-Fab Backyard Rehab …

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XERISCAPE INSTALLATION: DO-IT-YOURSELF … OR NOT?

May 9, 2016

Are you willing to take a risk with your landscape investment? Whether you’re the type of person who loves a do-it-yourself project or you’d rather hire a pro, making the switch to a beautifully designed and installed Xeriscape landscape is a visible investment that can be very rewarding and lead to a substantial return. Finding the right resources to help …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH: EVENING PRIMROSE

April 27, 2016

Oenotheras, also known as Evening Primrose, are spreading or clumping groundcovers, native to the plains, grasslands and deserts of North America. They have large, showy four-petaled flowers in pink, white, or yellow, and create carpets of bright color in desert landscapes. Oenotheras are generally night-blooming plants, but most will stay open until midday. These widely adapted plants can be used …

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WATER CONSERVATION EXPO, PROVIDED BY SRP

February 3, 2016

Buy a Smart Irrigation Controller at a Discounted Price: Just $50* Phoenix valley residents are invited to learn about water conservation and Valley water supplies at the ninth annual SRP Water Conservation Expo on March 5, 2016. Approximately 50 exhibitors will be at the event, including municipalities, water organizations, the Water – Use It Wisely campaign, and vendors with water-efficient products. At …

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RAINWATER HARVESTING: ANYONE CAN DO IT

January 7, 2016

What do you think of when you hear the term ‘water harvesting?’ Do you imagine a giant cistern collecting water? Can you envision a complicated system of pipes leading from your roof to your outdoor landscape? If so, you are completely right! What you may not realize is that there are some very simple ways that you can utilize rainwater for your …

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Rain Off Roof

PLANT OF THE MONTH: MUHLENBERGIA

November 13, 2015

These spectacular, non-invasive, ornamental clumping grasses are versatile and require very little maintenance. Muhlenbergias are native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico at elevations of 2500 to 7000 feet. With over 125 species, this large and diverse group can be used as a vertical specimen or accent, a softening feature around boulders and contrasting dessert plants, or a …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH: FAIRY DUSTER

September 17, 2015

The name calliandra refers to the beautiful stamens which make the tufted or ball-like flowers on these loosely branched shrubs. Their colors, ranging from pale pink through deep red, are indeed beautiful. These small to medium sized shrubs produce their flowers against a backdrop of finely divided, lacy-looking foliage. Calliandras can be used in a wide variety of landscape situations. Fairy dusters …

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4 EASY WAYS TO ATTRACT WILDLIFE TO YOUR YARD

September 11, 2015

The award-winning Xeriscape Demonstration Garden at the Glendale Main Library, 5959 W. Brown Street, began in June of 1990. Since that time, the garden has grown to nearly four acres in size with more than 400 species of plants. But, did you know that the garden is also certified as a Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation for providing …

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NEW HUMMINGBIRD HABITAT AT CHANDLER XERISCAPE GARDEN

August 24, 2015

Xeriscape (zer-i-scape) is a type of landscaping which uses water-wise plants and can even include small water features, patios, walkways, limited turf areas and effective mulches combined into an eye-appealing environment. Xeriscape should not look like a sea of gravel or barren rocks and cactus. Xeric gardens can be full of beautiful green plants that are water-efficient and able to …

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