News & Events

News & Events

Plant of the Month: Creosote Bush

August 20, 2024

Creosote Bush, Larrea tridentata is the perfect plant for us to feature during these hot summer months. It’s one of the toughest plants you’ll find, and with a little extra water, they are green and attractive in the landscape! Description – What does the Creosote Bush look like? Whenever it rains in the desert, Creosote Bush lends a distinctive fragrance …

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10 Ultimate Arizona Water-Saving Tips

August 1, 2024

In Arizona, water conservation benefits the entire state. Conserving water around your home is a great way to do your part while saving you money! Although you may be a drop, your actions create a ripple. Check out our ultimate Arizona water-saving tips for easy ways to save water this summer and all year round! 1. Leaks, Leaks Everywhere Toilets …

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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

Help Track Rainfall with Rainlog.org and Make a Difference!

July 12, 2024

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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Plants of the Month: Heat-Hearty Plants Bursting with Red, White, & Blue

July 1, 2024

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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School’s Out and Water’s In: 5 Ways to Save Water Over Summer Break

June 23, 2024

Hey there! It’s Wayne Drop, your favorite water-saving pal from Water – Use It Wisely. As school ends and summer begins, it’s time to unleash your water-saving powers at home! I’ve got five splash-tastic ways to conserve water during your epic summer break. After all, it’s a break from school, not from saving water.   1. Turn Off the Faucet …

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Build a Rain Garden: Nature Based Solutions from Schools to Your Home

June 13, 2024

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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Plant of the Month – Ironwood

June 3, 2024

Desert Ironwood, Olneya tesota Dense, thorny, and strong like steel, the Desert Ironwood Tree (Olneya tesota) is an under recognized super tree of the Sonoran Desert. It is naturally found along washes and hillsides of Arizona’s deserts under 3,000 ft of elevation. It offers valuable protection for understory plants and habitat for our native wildlife. When in their natural environment, …

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Monthly Watering Text Alert Takes Guess Work Out of Watering

May 28, 2024

The watering needs for your yard vary from season to season and even month to month. So, regularly adjusting your irrigation schedule is essential. It is also an easy way to save water and money while ensuring your plants get the proper amount of water they need to thrive, yet it often gets overlooked.   To better assist residents with …

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Plant of the Month – Yellow Bells, Orange Bells, & Much More!

May 15, 2024

Yellow Bells provide a burst of summer color to desert xeriscape gardens. Spectacular clusters of bright yellow, bell-shaped flowers attract hummingbirds and cover these large shrubs or small trees from April through November. Pencil-like seed pods that develop in the fall provide food for over-wintering songbirds. The bright green foliage offers a cooling effect during the hot summer months. Yellow Bells …

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Can It Be Flushed? The Answer is Likely, NO!

May 6, 2024

THIS IS GOING TO “Be GROSS” It’s time to talk about something unpleasant, folks, because what you flush matters, and I’ll tell you why. Hold onto your seats while I take you through a guided tour of a typical wastewater treatment plant. SOCKS, BASEBALLS, AND RUBBER DUCKIES. OH MY. On any given day, wastewater treatment operators encounter a staggering variety …

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Keep the Splash In Your Pool: Is Your Pool Leaking?

April 24, 2024

The start of summer is here, the temperatures are heating up, and that means it’s swim season. It’s time to get your pool in tip top shape, which includes determining if your pool is leaking. In our dry, Arizona desert climate, the typical swimming pool can evaporate its equivalent water volume in one year — up to 25,000 gallons. Along …

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fix pool leaks