Archive for “Outdoors” Category

Make Saving Water a Lifestyle (and Fun Hobby) with Our Events Calendar

August 24, 2022

Arizona water has been making headline news lately. You’ve seen the headlines and the images of lakes (reservoirs) that appear to be draining before our very eyes. The growing urgency to preserve the precious water we have challenges us to think harder about the water we use. Fortunately, our state is having a relatively active monsoon season this summer. However, …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH: LEUCOPHYLLUM OR TEXAS SAGE

July 14, 2022

Texas sages are among the most reliable and fool-proof of the low water use plants available in Arizona. In the past twenty years, many new species and varieties have been brought into cultivation. These evergreen shrubs are native to Texas and Mexico, and perform well in our desert with very little maintenance. These shrubs require full sun and good drainage. …

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Chihuahuan Sage

Cycle-and-Soak is Just One Idea for Smart Irrigation Month

July 7, 2022

July is Smart Irrigation Month! It’s the perfect opportunity to highlight this great cycle-and-soak watering method from WaterSense to be more efficient with your landscape water use! Watering Tips from WaterSense® It’s important to know when, how often and how long to water your lawn. Each landscape is different. One watering method, Cycle-and-Soak, makes sure your soil absorbs the most …

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Swimming Pools – How to Beat the Leak!

June 23, 2022

Swimming pools help us beat the heat, but occasionally we may need to beat the leak! Pools can leak constantly or may only leak when the pool equipment is running – which can lead to water waste and a high water bill. Since pools are one of the greatest users outdoors, it’s important to make sure they are being operated …

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fix pool leaks

Plant of the Month: Eight Plants Perfect for Your Pollinator Garden

June 16, 2022

Help protect biodiversity! There are over 7 million humans in Arizona, and we all rely on insects and plants to survive. Native plants support native wildlife. Using native plants in your yard and landscapes is the best way to support healthy ecosystems and protect biodiversity. An easy place to start with planting natives is a pollinator garden. No matter where …

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Using native plants in your yard and landscapes is the best way to support healthy ecosystems and protect biodiversity.

Questions Answered: Water Deeply But Infrequently – What Does That Mean?

June 9, 2022

The Watering Mantra for Desert Landscapes You may have heard Arizona landscape experts saying, “water deeply but infrequently,” but what does that mean? If you are originally from a part of the country that gets significant rain throughout the year, watering means running the sprinklers or hose occasionally during a dry spell. Arizona is one of the few places where …

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Efficient and Effective Outdoor Watering is a Key Component of Conservation in the Desert

May 20, 2022

Here in the Valley, most of our water use occurs outdoors and not inside the home. With such a significant amount of our water being used outside, it highlights the importance of being efficient with our outdoor water use, especially during a historic drought, changing climate, and Colorado River shortages. As our temperatures rise, so does outdoor water use in …

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Photo of a drip emitter

Plant of the Month: Azure Bush Germander

April 8, 2022

Something Blue Azure Bush Germander (Teucrium fruticans ‘Azureum’) is a unique blue flowering perennial that thrives in full sun & drought tolerant Arizona gardens. With striking silvery sage foliage and cooling blue purple blooms that cover the bush in Winter extending into Spring, it’s sure to bring pollinators and brighten up your garden at a time of year when most …

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New Certified Water Efficient Home Program for Tempe Residents

March 18, 2022

Tempe residents… This one is for you! Tempe Water Conservation and Efficiency has rolled out a new program called the Certified Water Efficient Home. Now Tempe residents have the opportunity to self-certify their home and receive a yard sign along with a water conservation kit to display as a symbol of their dedication to saving water. What does it take …

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Plant of the Month: Globe Mallow

March 15, 2022

Globe mallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua), both drought tolerant and beautiful, brings a unique “cottage-garden” feel to the desert plant palette along with some surprises. In spring a flush of colorful flowers are produced that will cause people to stop in their tracks. After that, globe mallow will bloom off and on throughout the summer and fall. This shrubby, perennial is native …

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Mogollon Rim with Wayne Drop

February 22, 2022

Hey Everyone… Wayne Drop here! There’s nothing more fun than going sledding! A February winter storm watch has been issued for Flagstaff and Mogollon Rim today with snow predicted to reach anywhere from 8-16 inches. That’s when I love to visit the Mogollon Rim (pronounced “Muggy – own”), a sheer cliff that runs a stunning 200 miles diagonally across Arizona. …

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Top Five Blogs of 2021

January 10, 2022

2022 has arrived! Let’s take a “drip” down memory lane. Here are our top 5 blogs from 2021. #1 Plant of the Month: 5 Plants That Can Take the Southwest Heat It’s no surprise that the biggest challenge to growing plants in our region is the intense heat and dryness of summer, which is a stressful environment for plants. Thankfully, there …

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