News & Events

News & Events

Plant of the Month: Winter Color Means Winter Wonderful!

January 20, 2025

As we all know, our desert cities are magnets for winter visitors, who are seduced by our balmy weather, manicured fairways, and bountiful recreational opportunities. Not surprisingly, they also expect their winter paradise to be landscaped with loads of COLOR! This is always a challenge for landscape professionals because although our cold temperatures are mild compared to those across most of the country, they are low …

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Top Blogs of 2024: Your Favorite Reads on Water-Saving Wisdom

January 13, 2025

As another year of water conservation draws to a close, it’s time to highlight the blog posts that stood out in 2024. Covering topics ranging from landscaping tips to surprising flushable facts, these articles sparked interest and helped amplify efforts to save water. Here’s a look back at the most popular posts of the year!   1. Plant of the …

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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

The 12 Days of Wayne Tips: Save Water This Holiday Season

December 10, 2024

Hi there, friends!   It’s me, Wayne Drop, your favorite water-saving droplet! The holiday season is here, and while we’re busy decking the halls, cooking up feasts, and celebrating with loved ones, it’s also a great time to think about how we can save water. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just enjoy the winter festivities, these 12 water-saving …

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Plant of the Month: Chuparosa

December 2, 2024

The Hummingbird’s Choice Award goes to … Chuparosa! If Arizona’s hummingbirds could vote on a state flower, it would be Chuparosa (Justicia californica). A mainstay of most wildlife gardens, this long-suffering desert beauty asks little and gives much.  It can be grown long and lanky, spindly branches vining into trees — or pruned to take on a more civilized appearance. …

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Calling All Photographers! Enter the WRRC 2024 Photo Contest

November 20, 2024

Enter the 2024 Photo Contest! The Water Resources Research Center (WRRC) is excited to announce its 2024 annual photo contest! This year’s theme, Water in Arizona, offers lots of opportunities for creativity, inviting you to capture the essence of how water impacts life in our state. Whether you’re passionate about landscapes, wildlife, urban scenes, or how people interact with water, …

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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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PLANT OF THE MONTH: PINK TRUMPET VINE OR PODRANEA

November 1, 2024

The Pink Trumpet Vine, Podranea ricasoliana, exuberantly blooms in fall with flared, trumpet-shaped flowers. If looking for seasonal color, be sure to add this one to your plant palette. Note – be sure to properly identify at the nursery as it can commonly be mistaken for Bower Vine or Pandorea jasminoides. DESCRIPTION The lush green leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers of …

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Fund Your Water-Saving Ideas with Friends of the Verde River and SRP!

October 17, 2024

Small grants are available to support homeowners, businesses, and organizations in both the Verde Valley and Phoenix Metro areas! A new partnership between Friends of the Verde River and Salt River Project (SRP) has expanded the River Friendly Living Grant Program for fall 2024 to fund your water-saving ideas. This year, the program will offer up to $52,000 in small …

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Verde River Arizona

Discover Passive Rainwater Harvesting to Enhance the Sustainability of Your Landscape

October 14, 2024

New Video Series Available Phoenix Water teamed up with Watershed Management Group to bring you a video series about passive rainwater harvesting and sustainable desert landscapes. And trust us—now’s the time to take action! You can make landscape changes that will help you grow vibrant, native plants, reduce your water use, and help your plants thrive in our desert environment. …

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PLANT OF THE MONTH: QUEEN’S WREATH

October 7, 2024

Provides a stunning display of the bright pink clusters What a perfect name for this beautiful late summer blooming vine. The elegant Antigonon leptopus or Queen’s Wreath (also called Coral Vine) is one of those show-stopping plants that has likely caused near automobile accidents with their stunning display of the bright pink clusters. The rich, green, heart-shaped leaves seem to …

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Our New Interactive Water Conservation Map

September 24, 2024

Find Your Water Provider and Conservation Programs Offered Curious about how you can do more in terms of your own at-home water conservation? Not sure where to get started or what the options or incentives are? The new Water – Use It Wisely interactive water conservation map can help. Water – Use It Wisely, Central Arizona Project, and Arizona’s Water …

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