A turf war your water bill can win

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 4, 2009 at 7:27 am

From the Tracy Press:

In recent years, water has become one of our most endangered resources. With ever-increasing demand and successive years of drought, it’s is hard to justify wasteful irrigation practices.

In summer months, water used for our lawns represents 40 to 60 percent of total household water use. Think of how much water can be saved, if we replace all or a portion of our lawns with native or low-water use plants. Not only will we conserve water, we can reduce the amount of fertilizers and lawn chemicals that often end up in our groundwater. There also can be a tremendous labor savings once the task of taking out the lawn is done. Imagine not having to mow the lawn every Saturday morning.

That pay-off requires some work before hand, though. A sod-cutter from a tool-rental shop, which can be had for less than $100 a day, can save your back from sweaty work, and if strips are stacked atop each other grass-side to grass-side, they’ll turn into compost.

The other way of removing grass involves a shovel, and when lawn is dug up, so too is dirt. The weight ads up quickly, and if you plan to have it carted away in your green waste container, be careful about overfilling it. If it’s too heavy, it’ll be left on the curb unemptied. Less than half-full is a safe bet though.

Remember, the end goal is to reduce water use. That means converting overhead sprinklers to drip irrigation, soaker hoses or comparable systems. Aim to reduce your total water use by at least 25 percent.

Read more from the Tracy Press by clicking here.

July 4, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Making plants that sip, not gulp, water

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 2, 2009 at 7:18 am

From the Voice of San Diego:

For the family farm, the margin between profit and loss is razor thin in the best of times. These are certainly not the best of times for farmers in San Diego County.

The wildfires of 2003 and 2007, coupled with a crippling drought — now in its third year — have forced some local farmers out of business. And, with agriculture accounting for 80 percent of California’s water use, those still in business are being hit hard. They are enduring record water price increases, and, in some cases, mandatory usage cutbacks as high as 30 percent.

“One (water) district was proposing increases of more than 100 percent,” said Mike Mellano, a cut flower producer in Oceanside and president of the San Diego County Farm Bureau. Mellano said the record price increases and rationing, along with the worsening economic climate, have created “a little bit of a perfect storm” for county farmers.

One way to weather the storm is to make crops that don’t need as much water. This is the focus of pioneering research by University of California, San Diego biologist Julian Schroeder. He is a leader among scientists developing a new generation of crops that could ultimately protect agriculture from the scourge of drought. But as with all of humankind’s attempts to improve on nature, Schroeder’s innovation has high hurdles to overcome in both the scientific and cultural realms.

“The bad news is there is no magic bullet,” said Schroeder.

“The good news is that drought-tolerant mechanisms are multifarious,” he adds, meaning there are multiple approaches scientists can take that will yield an improvement.

Read more from the Voice of San Diego by clicking here.

July 2, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Fake grass a hot issue: Some homeowners think it’s great despite environmental concerns

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 28, 2009 at 5:29 pm

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

In their eagerness to conserve water and escape the drudgery of yardwork, many California homeowners are replacing their H20-guzzling lawns with artificial turf.

Despite worries about its high lead content, more and more consumers are willing to try artificial turf. Although it remains a small part of the overall market for U.S. lawns, the industry says it has grown by an estimated 20 percent annually for the past five years.

One recent convert is David Lang of Alpine, a retired water employee for the city of San Diego. He and his wife Rosie believe the plastic grass they installed in front of their home will save them time and money as it helps the environment. They also find it to be much more attractive than their old natural lawn.

“I was spending an hour out there every week mowing and trimming and it never really looked very good,” Lang said. “Plus you are putting fungicides and insecticides on the ground, which isn’t environmentally good. I am selling my lawn mower and all my lawn tools or giving them away.”

Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.

June 28, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Yanking out lawns saves water and money

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 24, 2009 at 6:43 am

From KPBS:

The San Diego County Water Authority says nearly 60 percent of our drinking water is used for lawns and other landscaping. Mandatory outdoor water restrictions means some lawns will go brown this summer. But, as KPBS Environment Reporter Ed Joyce tells us, some people are pulling up their grass. It’s part of our week-long series: “H2NO: San Diego Going Dry.”

More of us may need to become deviants to stretch our limited water supply. “It is normal when you drive down the street to see every front yard have a large lawn,” Maureen Stapleton says. “That is tradition.”

Stapleton is the General Manager of the San Diego County Water Authority. “And what is standing out now are those that have substantially modified their landscaping into non-lawn for the front yard,” Stapleton says. “That is truly a deviation from what has been considered normal activity.”

Stapleton talked behavioral psychology at a recent water conservation summit. Motivating people to alter landscapes is one of the key strategies for water conservation.

Water-wise choices for your landscape from the Napa County Master Gardeners

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 23, 2009 at 7:32 am

From the Napa Valley Register:

Facing a second year of drought, Napa Valley gardeners have to make some tough decisions about what to water. All plants need water, even cactus and succulents. If you have to ration water, give priority to your biggest investments.

Focus on your garden’s most significant trees and shrubs. Even established trees need water, and since water tables are lower than usual, trees that haven’t needed water in the past may need some this summer.

The bigger the plant, the more leaf area it has. That means it will use more water on a hot day. Temperature, humidity and wind are all important in determining how much water plants need. Water-stressed plants often have a dull look even before they wilt. Try not to let plants get water-deprived because they will stop growing and may not recover. Water-deprived plants are also more susceptible to pests and some diseases.

Read more from the Napa Valley Register by clicking here.

June 23, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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The Dry Garden: Replacing that lawn along the sidewalk

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 21, 2009 at 6:35 am

From Emily Green at the Los Angeles Times:

There may be a drought and tough watering restrictions, but there has never been a better time to tackle the knottiest problem in Los Angeles landscaping: How to plant parkways?

Parkways are now and always have been a headache. No matter who owns that strip of land between curb and sidewalk, for safety reasons, two city of Los Angeles agencies call the shots over what may and may not be done with it. The Urban Forestry Division oversees the plants, and the Bureau of Engineering handles “hardscaping,” or the paved parts. But the homeowner is responsible for tending them.

Traditionally, most parkways have been planted with grass to match frontyard lawns. But under the new drought ordinances, when lawn sprinklers on parkways create run-off, homeowners face warnings, then fines.

It’s a measure that’s both unfair and long overdue. No tweaking of parkway sprinklers is likely to end run-off, and yet end it must. As the trickle from sprinklers accumulates in gutters and storm drains, it is steadily draining our water supply and poisoning the Pacific.

So dolphin-respecting, law-abiding, lawn lovers are left with the option to water the parkway by hand — or get rid of the grass.

Read more from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.

June 21, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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The greener gardening idea: Drip irrigation or xeriscaping?

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 17, 2009 at 7:18 am

From TreeHugger.com:

It’s tough to calculate precisely how much water the average American puts on their landscape every day. Sizes of yards, systems for watering, and ecological locations all vary greatly. But reliable estimates each of us uses between 112 gallons to 180 gallons a day, and the EPA estimates 30% of a household’s water use goes to watering the yard. While estimates are varied, there’s one thing we can agree on: When water is scarce, pouring it on ornamental landscaping is wasteful. But there’s another thing we can all agree on: Well-tended landscapes are pretty. How can we have our cake and eat it too? Two options come to mind - drip irrigation and xeriscaping. But which is the more eco-friendly solution?

Is Saving Water In the Garden That Important?

This is a pretty localized issue. In places with plenty of precipitation, the cheapest, greenest solution is clear - you barely have to water at all, anyway, so use the system you have as conservatively as possible. However, for more drought-prone places like California, Nevada and the Southwest, this is a question with big implications. No matter where we’re located, interest in saving water is on the tips of everyone’s tongue. And with yards being given 20-40% more water than they need, anyone tending a yard likely has room to improve. So what’s the best way to go about doing it?

Find out more by reading the TreeHugger blog by clicking here.

June 17, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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The drought tolerant landscape

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 14, 2009 at 10:31 am

From the Examiner:

As water becomes an ever more critical resource, there is less reason than ever to be designing and planting water-guzzling landscapes. With water rationing, a drought tolerant garden is the best solution. Unfortunately, many folks are under the impression that this means they must have a sparse, hungry looking garden in varied shades of olive and brown. Nothing could be further from the truth. Drought tolerant means exactly what it says. There are plants that bloom luxuriantly and still require minimal water. These plants may not look tough, but indeed they are.

Cactus and succulent gardens, when thoughtfully designed with paths, boulders, rocks, even sculptures, can become a maze of fascinating texture and color, created in diverse scenes. California natives can be selected to be as ornamental as any other flowering plant. Seeding California native annuals in fall and winter can blanket the ground with startling color by early and mid spring. Perennials can be grouped to give color most of the year. There is also a growing selection of wonderful new plants from South Africa and Australia where the climate is similar to here. Mid summer is the resting period for most CA natives. The hot dry air gives them the same signal for dormancy as the cold winter does to most plants in the cooler parts of the country. If you want color in your garden during this resting period, try planting an area or two with colorful plants that do require summer water. Give them a selected sprinkler valve, or, better, snake in a drip irrigation line (putting it on a timer so you don’t have to think about it), and these specific areas will brighten up your garden for the short few months the natives are sleeping. You will still keep your water bills low and your maintenance minimal.

Read more from The Examiner by clicking here.

June 14, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Dry Gardening: Evapotranspiration and the over-watering of the Southern California lawn

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 13, 2009 at 6:17 am

From the Los Angeles Times:

Most of us learn about evapotranspiration in school. Rain or snow falls. As it forms rivers or soaks into the earth, a certain amount of it evaporates into the atmosphere. That’s the “evapo” part. Then the roots of plants also absorb water from the earth and feed it to their leaves. During photosynthesis it is released back into the atmosphere. That’s the “transpiration” part.

How fast evapotranspiration occurs and how much water is involved depends on a place and its plants. Tropical flora, flushed with steady water, grows in a fast, lush and often continuous fashion. Landscape designers would say it has an high ET rate.

Plants in dry Mediterranean climates such as ours use water sparingly. Faced with bone dry summers, Mediterranean plants typically become dormant in late spring through fall to conserve water. These plants have low ET rates.

But in Los Angeles, we tend to use plants with high ET rates in a region naturally suited to plants with low ones. Because the climate is simply too hot for most plants with high ET rates, we are forced to water them at many times over the already high rate they would naturally require.

Read more from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.

June 13, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping, Southern California

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Drought-tolerant beauty

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 12, 2009 at 6:59 am

From the Santa Rosa Press Democrat:

As California heads into its third dry summer and pressure mounts to turn down the tap, a new set of plant and landscape descriptors has emerged.

“Drought tolerant.” “Low water use.” They have quickly become so ubiquitous, so P.C. as to be downright trendy.

As much as you might like the English cottage garden look, there is something appealing about a landscape that is more independent. It’s sort of like raising kids. They’re adorable as babies and you can’t imagine them growing up when they’re toddling and cooing so endearingly. But when they finally are old enough to drive, make a sandwich on their own, dress themselves and not require a sitter every time you walk out the door, it’s deliciously liberating.

Is it possible to have an independent landscape? Taking low water use to the next level, can you have a garden that can at least survive a drought if voluntary cutbacks — the goal this year is 25 percent in Sonoma County, 50 percent in Mendocino — escalate into actual water rationing next year?

Yes, say experts — with some caveats. And it doesn’t have to look like a prickly back yard in Tucson. “Drought tolerant” and “low water use” are replacing the old term “xeriscape,” which, fair or not, had come to be negatively perceived by some as arid.

Read more from the Santa Rosa Press Democrat by clicking here.

June 12, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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The dry garden: L.A. offers rebate for ripping out your lawn

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 11, 2009 at 7:24 am

From the Los Angeles Times:

Fast on the heels of the new watering ordinances that took effect June 1, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has begun a cash-for-grass program. Single-family homes served by the DWP will be eligible to receive $1 for every square foot of turf that they replace with less thirsty alternatives.

For years Southern California water managers paid scant attention to outdoor water conservation. Then they saw stunning savings achieved in Nevada. According to the Southern Nevada Water Authority, in the last decade, Las Vegas has removed more than 125 million square feet of grass, saving 7 billion gallons of water a year. That’s almost one-tenth of Southern Nevada’s annual water supply.

Here in Los Angeles, the new Residential Drought Resistant Landscape Incentive Program is not region-wide. It applies only to Department of Water and Power customers, and it’s not the $1.50 per square foot that Vegas residents receive. Any other catches?

The agency won’t be buying dead lawn, warns DWP spokeswoman Jane Galbraith. If you are lucky enough to live where the lawn is already dead, the water company takes the view that nature has already done the right thing for you.

But if you have 200 to 2,000 square feet of lawn that is doing little more than consuming water, then the DWP is willing to pay you to get rid of it. That includes the forlorn strip of lawn between the sidewalk and curb known as the “parkway.”

June 11, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping, Southern California

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Drought prompts rising tide of interest in water savings

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 8, 2009 at 1:26 pm

From the San Diego Business Journal:

Out of adversity comes opportunity. Local landscaping companies and nurseries say the region’s drought, which has prompted water restrictions, has spurred demand for lawn and garden conversions, as well as the installation of “smart” irrigation controllers. Such devices employ computer technology to automate watering.

For Helix Environmental Planning of La Mesa, it’s the upside of the downside, says Brad Lewis, landscape architect. When home building dropped off, Lewis said the design of “green spaces” — lush landscaping home builders do as a trade-off to get their projects approved — declined.

Since the beginning of the year, however, he says Helix has experienced a twofold increase in requests for conversions to plants that can survive on little water, including succulents and shrubs native to Southern California. “We’re now doing proposals and talking to homeowner associations’ boards about native plants,” Lewis said.

Read more from the San Diego Business Journal by clicking here.

June 8, 2009 · Filed Under Conservation, Drought Tolerant Landscaping, San Diego

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Save water by learning how much your plants really need

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 6, 2009 at 6:12 am

From AlterNet:

Mention watering, and the first thing we think of is how we can garden so that we don’t have to water. If a garden’s soil is rich with humus, the decomposing organic matter will absorb water like a sponge and hold in the moisture, making it available to growing plants. Mulching also makes for moist soil, because it prevents the evaporation of water from the ground’s surface. That’s why, in American Intensive Gardening, we grow plants close together to form a living mulch. Just like a miniature rainforest, the canopy of leaves shades the soil, keeping it cooler and reducing moisture loss through evaporation.

Recently we came across some old gardening notes that indicated that in 1978 we had had to water our garden for the first time in its nine-year history. In fact, until the past few years watering has never been a consistent part of our gardening activities. We might have watered seedbeds or seedlings, but we rarely found it necessary to provide additional water for growing plants. But our climate seems to have changed so much in recent years that we now begin watering in May and continue through the course of the summer. In addition, the lack of snow cover in our area over the past few winters has given us spring seasons with little surface moisture. This new need to water has helped us empathize with gardeners who live in arid regions of the country. We have learned, much to our dismay, just how time-consuming watering a garden can be.

Read more from AlterNet by clicking here.

June 6, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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State could make it easier to plant drought-tolerant plants

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 23, 2009 at 8:40 am

From the Valley Chronicle:

Cities in the San Jacinto Valley and throughout California have been stepping up their efforts to conserve water in recent years by developing ordinances that require developers to landscape their properties with native or water-efficient plants.

Existing homeowners, for their part, are increasingly concerned about California’s water supplies and the need to conserve water. But, in many cases, they are prohibited from replacing trees, shrubs, and grass with drought-tolerant plants because they live in developments that are governed by outdated Covenants, Codes and Restrictions (or CC&Rs). Nearly 25 percent of California’s homeowners live in developments that are governed by CC&Rs. And, in many cases, residents of these developments can be fined by their association if they replace their existing landscaping with California-friendly plants.

But that’s about to change. Metropolitan Water District and East Bay Municipal Utility District have co-sponsored legislation that would eliminate the ability of homeowners associations to prohibit property owners from installing or maintaining water-efficient landscaping that is in compliance with the state’s model landscaping ordinance or with local landscaping ordinances.

Read more from the Valley Chronicle by clicking here.

May 23, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Faking it the green way: Artificial grass looks great and saves water

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 23, 2009 at 7:31 am

From the San Gabriel Valley Tribune:

Robert and Corinne Linke used to have a lawn like many of their neighbors in West Covina, but last year the Linkes decided to install water-saving artificial grass.

Several factors played a part in the decision, Corinne Linke said. Her husband injured his back and could no longer garden, and the couple became aware of a worsening drought and wanted to do their part in conserving water.

After purchasing artificial grass last year from AGL Grass of Southern California, they’re happy with the results. “We’ve had people stop and get out of their cars and check if it’s real,” she said. “It just looks too nice.”

With awareness of the region’s water crisis growing, water agencies like the Metropolitan Water District, which provides water to 26 cities and water districts, have been offering incentives for residents to conserve, and people like the Linkes have been getting the message loud and clear.

Read more from the San Gabriel Valley Tribune by clicking here.

May 23, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Irrigation technology’s growing pains

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 14, 2009 at 6:24 am

From the Water Efficiency Journal:

Money was easy to borrow, and, at the same time, droughts were front-page stories. For two decades–plus, millions of single-family, cluster, and town homes were being put up, with nice lawns to maintain. Along the way, irrigation systems became a must-have option. Like electric garage door openers, everyone had to have automatic sprinklers with the new home, as standard.

To feed the demand, new “smart” data-encoded irrigation control products issued forth, evolved quickly, and were added onto developers’ plans.

And during this time, few, if any, codes and standards were issued by regulatory bodies; nothing adequate to assure quality or standardization in rapidly growing practices of landscape irrigation design, installation, operation, or technology.

The result?

From his vantage in the field—encountering landscape systems almost daily—Timothy Malooly, an EPA WaterSense Partner and president of Irrigation Consultants & Control Inc. (Plymouth, MN), observes that, “Thousands of irrigation systems that have been installed in the last 10 years … are performing very poorly.”

Read more from the Water Efficiency Journal by clicking here.

May 14, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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How dry can your garden grow?

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 13, 2009 at 7:38 am

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Not enough water. Budgets getting tight. The combination makes it the perfect time to plant vegetables and drought-tolerant flowers from seed.

Happily, the very plants that fit nicely into a drought-tolerant garden - native flowers - are ones that are relatively easy to start from seed. Native plants, by their nature, have adapted to the Bay Area’s Mediterranean climate of wet winters and dry summers. There has also been a recent focus on creating hybrid varieties of vegetables and flowers to achieve certain goals. These hybrids increase the ability of plants to withstand disease, to handle more challenging environmental conditions such as poorer soil or less moisture, and to make do with less heat.

As with any garden plot, choosing plants you’ll start from seed means assessing the sun or shade areas where these plants will find a home, as well as the space they’ll need. If you’re choosing a shrub or perennial, bear in mind its size at full maturity. With annuals, you have more flexibility, given their relatively short life span. And of course many natives, especially annuals, can be grown in pots.

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

May 13, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Using non-water loving plants as art

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 12, 2009 at 2:22 pm

From the Victorville Daily Press:

Quick, what is the easiest class of plants you can grow, that multiply like weeds, look like high design and sophisticated no matter how you pair them, survive on neglect and need little water when you’re jetting off to foreign places?

Water storing succulents come in so many shapes, sizes, colors, prickly and otherwise, that you can’t help but pick up “just another one” on your next nursery trip. Heck, no need to buy them if you’re not opposed to pinching from friends. Just stick a stem in a pot and you’ll have a plant in no time. The only thing succulents ask for is quick drainage and a little shade. Unlike their cacti cousins, some will sulk during the hottest months.

One large succulent in a pot makes a dramatic garden on its own, but no need to stop with singles. You can infinitely mix them in potted arrangements, poke them into frames or even swag them from the balcony if you’ve nothing better going on this weekend.

Read more from the Victorville Daily Press by clicking here.

May 12, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Commentary: Focus on landscaping for water conservation, says Cal Am

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 11, 2009 at 6:24 am

From the Monterey County Herald:

While May is National Water Awareness Month, it seems like every month would qualify here on the Peninsula, with the constant reminders of our water shortage, threatened cutbacks to our water supply, restrictions on water permits and rates that charge higher prices to large users. In fact, the Peninsula is probably the most water-aware part of the state, as evidenced by our average residential consumption of just 70 gallons per person per day — a stark contrast to the average use of 192 gallons throughout California.

When Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calls for a 20 percent reduction in urban water use by 2020, is he talking to us?

The answer is not exactly. The governor’s plan divides California into 10 water-use regions, so not everybody has to meet the same water-saving goals. Our region, the Central Coast, stretches from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County. While most of the state is expected to reach a goal of 154 gallons of water use per person each day, the governor’s plan challenges our region to reduce consumption to 133 gallons per person — which, of course, we are already doing here!

Communities like ours that have met the state’s conservation goals are tasked with keeping up the good work and exploring new methods.

Read more from the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.

May 11, 2009 · Filed Under Conservation, Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Eastern Municipal Water District to open demonstration gardens

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 8, 2009 at 7:22 am

From the North County Times:

In recent months, as the threat of water cutbacks has become a reality, people have been told over and over to consider replacing ever-thirsty grass lawns with water-sipping native vegetation.

So what to plant? On Saturday, the Eastern Municipal Water District will offer plenty of suggestions when it opens its Water Wise Demonstration Garden with exhibits, vendor booths, experts and cartoon characters from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

In all, Eastern replanted 57 acres at its big complex in Perris, using California-friendly ground cover such as Indian hawthorn and bush lantana; shrubs such as society garlic and agave; and trees such as lemon-scented gum. Some crushed rock and three grades of synthetic turf also has been added, some replacing nine acres of real grass. That live grass and the other non-native bushes and trees drank way too much water for the new water-wise era.

Read more from the North County Times by clicking here.

May 8, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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At Balboa Park, city parks director picks waterwise lawn

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 3, 2009 at 6:42 am

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

At Balboa Park, the yard at the 80-year-old Fire Alarm Building has become a showcase for how to turn a traditional lawn into a drought-friendly landscape. The stucco building, which is tucked away on the park’s west side at the foot of Balboa Drive, houses the office of Stacey LoMedico, city parks director.

LoMedico thought it was about time to stop watering the lawn – given the drought and the city’s call for residents to ease up on irrigation.

Over the past six weeks, city employees ripped out the turf, modified the irrigation system, put down redwood bark mulch and created a pathway made of decomposed granite from a San Diego quarry. The mulch, called “gorilla hair,” is known for keeping weeds away and the gravelly granite will allow rainwater to filter into the ground instead of running off into storm drains, LoMedico said.

Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.

May 3, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping, San Diego

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Landscape changing for water conservation

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 27, 2009 at 7:39 am

From Riverside’s Press-Enterprise:

Three years of drought have done more than drive up water rates and spur cries for mandatory conservation.

Sales of artificial turf and native plants have increased, calls for advice to low-water demonstration gardens are up and demand for consumer rebates on water-wise irrigation controllers has soared.

“Calls for support and assistance are way up,” said Tim Barr, water use efficiency manager at Western Municipal Water District, based in Riverside. “We expected things to fall off a little bit because of the economy, but (applications for incentives for) weather-based irrigation controllers, toilet retrofits and clothes washers are through the roof.”

Western and some other districts offer $85 rebates for front-loading washing machines, $100 for toilets that use 1.28 gallons or less per flush and $4 for nozzles that attach to pop-up sprinklers to reduce runoff. The largest jump at Western has been for $80 rebates on irrigation controllers that automatically adjust to weather conditions; requests increased from 45 in 2007 to 638 last year, according to district officials.

Read more from the Press-Enterprise by clicking here.

April 27, 2009 · Filed Under Conservation, Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Native garden tour in Silicon Valley draws enthusiasts

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 20, 2009 at 6:23 am

From the San Jose Mercury News:

Tan is the new green. The nascent “de-lawning” movement was on proud display around the South Bay and Peninsula during Sunday’s Going Native Garden Tour, which showcased native plants in an elegant palette of khaki, tawny, umber, bronze, olive and gold. “We killed the grass with plywood,” said Pamela Chesavage, happily. Instead of a carpet of turf, her Palo Alto front yard is decorated with fragrant salvia and thousands of poppies.

One yard at a time, native gardeners are striking a blow against Miracle-Gro, Pest Off and fleets of lawn mowers, reclaiming small corners of the valley and returning them to nature.

Nativists used to be environmental zealots whose rigid anti-water orthodoxy created dull and dusty summer yards. Now, they’re pragmatists. Water is expensive — and in short supply. Faced with drought, climate change and spiraling energy costs, an increasing number of homeowners are embracing an approach to landscaping that marries traditional environmental concerns — sustainability, biodiversity, restoration, conservation — with aesthetics.

The gardens on the tour, visited by more than 4,000 on Sunday, are not your 1970s weary xeriscapes. They are more thoughtful and seductive, with a greater sensitivity to aesthetics. Wild things — domesticated — can be lovely, many visitors agreed.

Read more from the San Jose Mercury News by clicking here.

April 20, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Bill to outlaw homeowners’ association bans on low-water-use plants

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 17, 2009 at 8:28 am

From the San Jose Mercury News:

John Gioia of Richmond is incensed. His homeowners’ association warned him last fall — during the drought — to water his front lawn more to meet the community standard for lush and green. What’s more, the association won’t let him replace his front lawn with rosemary, meadow grass and other drought-resistant plants.

“It’s doesn’t make sense that we have these old rules in homeowners’ associations that discriminate against low water-using plants in a state struggling with water shortages,” said Gioia, a Contra Costa County supervisor.

Two of California biggest urban water districts agree, and have teamed up to sponsor state legislation that would bar local homeowners’ associations from demanding lush lawns in droughts, and prohibiting homeowners from replacing lawns with unthirsty plants.

The legislation, Assembly Bill 1061, bill sailed through its first test Tuesday with unanimous approval from the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee.

Read more from the San Jose Mercury News by clicking here.

April 17, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping, Water Legislation

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Couple turn home into artificial ecosystem

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 17, 2009 at 8:14 am

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

Early spring rain funneled off the roof of Laura Baker’s Berkeley home and flowed into a downspout that connects to a gutter, which directed water into planter boxes containing her prized willow trees. The excess water was transported in pipes under the planter boxes to a pond that is home to a menagerie of wildlife, including frogs, dragonflies, mayflies, hawks, turkey vultures and other birds.

Baker, 62, and her husband, Lewis Lubin, 56, have turned their Roble Road garden into an artificial ecosystem with a drainage network that saves water and provides wildlife habitat. “We’re astonished about how easy it was to do this,” Baker said. “We feel it is just unconscionable to think about wasting water at this point. Once you become conscious of that and change your mind-set, it just gets easy.”

The couple used only 147 gallons of water a day during the last East Bay Municipal Utility District billing period. That’s 100 gallons a day less than the average used by the utility’s 1.3 million customers in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

While some people may save even more, Baker and Lubin have done it without drastically changing their lifestyle. Their water savings occurred even though their home is nearly 3,000 square feet with a garden that covers almost 2 acres.

Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle by clicking here.

April 17, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Garden expert’s latest book focuses on Sacramento & California natives

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 11, 2009 at 6:26 am

From the Sacramento Bee:

For more than 30 years, Michael Glassman has made other people’s yards his work. The nationally renowned landscape designer has created about 3,000 gardens, from the sublime to the stupendous. His award-winning work has been featured in Sunset magazine dozens of times, as well as Better Homes & Gardens and other national magazines.

A regular on television, Glassman co-hosted two seasons of the Discovery Channel’s “Garden Police.” In addition to appearances on local stations as a resident expert, he pops up often as a consultant on HGTV.

With an office in east Sacramento and a home in Davis, Glassman firmly has his roots here. For his fourth book, he finally got to focus on his hometown. “This is the book I’ve always wanted to do,” Glassman said. “I had complete control – photos, text, layout, everything. And it came out just the way I wanted.”

Read more from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.

April 11, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping, Sacramento

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Garden attendance grows: Visitors interested in drought-tolerant landscaping ideas

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 9, 2009 at 5:58 am

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

Splotches of colorful flowers at the Water Conservation Garden, from the bright pink orchid rockrose to the dark red blooms on a New Zealand tea tree, show that saving water doesn’t have to result in a drab landscape.

The garden at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego has been seeing a 69 percent increase in visitors since July as more San Diego County residents seek ways to make their backyards more drought-tolerant, said Executive Director Marty Eberhardt.

“San Diego is going to have to change its whole look,” she said. “It’s not something we need to be afraid of. It’s something we can embrace.”

It’s the only water conservation garden in San Diego County and has received national recognition as a pioneer extolling water conservation in the Western United States.

Almost 50,000 visitors are expected at the garden this fiscal year. Eberhardt, who’s headed the garden for more than four years, said the majority of visitors used to be gardeners and people with a high degree of environmental awareness.

“Now we’re getting people who hadn’t thought much about landscaping and weren’t worried about water,” she said.

Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.

April 9, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping, San Diego

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Gardening to reduce your water bill: Using California native plants in your garden doesn’t mean you have to settle; you will be surprised by their beauty and practicality

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 28, 2009 at 7:17 am

Great news for those of you who are considering alternatives to that thirsty green lawn soaking up all that water. Drought-tolerant landscaping need not be cactus and rocks - planting with California natives can be water thrifty, low maintenance, and beautiful as well.

Now you can see how others have implemented water-saving California natives in their landscapes by going on a garden tour. The Southern California garden tour is set to happen next weekend, so buy your tickets now. The garden tour in San Francisco is set for April 19th and the East Bay garden tour is set for May 3rd.

Here’s more:

With California’s drought creating near-crisis conditions, homeowners are looking for ways to lower their water bills. While many have reduced their water use indoors, their yards offer an opportunity to save even larger amounts of water.

A growing number of homeowners have turned to gardening with native plants as a way to save water and still maintain the beauty and practicality of their garden. In addition to requiring less water, native plants require no pesticides or herbicides which can harm groundwater quality. Best of all, natives offer habitat to birds, hummingbirds and butterflies and other native wildlife.

To help Angelenos discover the beauty and practicality of California native plants, the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants will host its sixth annual garden tour on Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s tour will feature a record 45 home gardens throughout the Los Angeles basin, a majority of which were designed, planted and tended by the homeowners themselves. Several of the gardens have been featured in the Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Dwell, Sunset Magazines and other media.

“You don’t have to sacrifice beauty for water savings,” said Lili Singer, a noted horticulturist and organizer of this year’s tour. “Natives offer color, fragrance, habitat and much more.

“Whether it’s the sweet fragrance of hummingbird sage, the white, blue and purple blooms of California lilac, or the pink and white fairy wands of the native coral bells, native plants offer something for everyone.”

While the tour focuses on the beauty of native plants, this year many gardens will showcase water savings. Several gardens on the tour will have before-and-after examples of their water usage, showing how they dramatically reduced their water bills by planting drought-tolerant natives.

The tour is designed to be a learning experience not only for people new to native gardening but experienced gardeners, too. One of the unique elements of the tour is the interaction attendees have with the garden owners – many of whom design, plant and tend their own gardens - landscape designers (if involved) and knowledgeable volunteers. All are on hand in each garden to share their passion and knowledge of gardening.

Gardens reflect a range of styles and ages. Many gardens follow a traditional or formal design, while others allow their natives to reach their wild potential. Some of the landscapes are mature and reflect years of experience in gardening with natives, while a few are developing gardens two or three years old. The tour guide book includes information about each garden to help attendees select the gardens they would like to visit, including hillside/slope, clay soil, aromatic, water features bird and butterfly habitat and other garden conditions.

Garden locations include Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Topanga, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Redondo Beach, Del Aire, Torrance, Long Beach, La Cañada Flintridge, Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, Monrovia, Granada Hills, Woodland Hills, Encino, Sherman Oaks, North Hollywood, Tujunga, Sun Valley, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Atwater Village and Echo Park.

For nearly 50 years, the Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants, Inc. has dedicated itself to helping Californians discover the beauty of California native plants. The Foundation operates the Theodore Payne Nursery in Sun Valley, which offers more than 500 native plant species and 200 types of native seed for sale to the general public. It is the largest nursery in Los Angeles County devoted exclusively to native plants. In addition, the Foundation offers gardening classes and operates a wildflower hotline every March through May. The Foundation honors the legacy of Theodore Payne, who opened his first nursery in 1903 in Los Angeles. In his lifetime, Mr. Payne introduced more than 400 species of native plants into cultivation for public use.

Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour
A self-guided tour of 46 home gardens in the Los Angeles Basin
Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5, 2009
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$20 per person
www.theodorepayne.org

Going Native Garden Tour
A free tour of native gardens in Santa Clara Valley & Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area
Sunday, April 19, 2009
10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Free
www.goingnativegardentour.org

Bring Back the Natives Garden Tour
A self-guided tour of 50 gardens in the East Bay
Sunday, May 3, 2009
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free
www.bringingbackthenatives.net

March 28, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Climate change hits American yards: Plant Hardiness Zone Map is getting an update, many planting zones shifted northward

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 24, 2009 at 5:43 am

From the Scientific American:

As winter retreats northward across the nation, gardeners are cleaning tools and turning attention to spring planting. But climate change is adding a new wrinkle, and now a standard reference – the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map – is about to make very clear how much rising temperatures have shifted planting zones northward.

The guide, last updated in 1990, shows where various species can be expected to thrive. A revision is expected sometime this year, and while the agency hasn’t released details, horticulturalists and experts who have helped with the revision expect the new map to extend plants’ northern ranges and paint a sharp picture of the continent’s gradual warming over the past few decades. The new version will have a wide audience: the National Gardening Association estimates 82 million U.S. households do some form of gardening, a number expected to increase as more Americans plant vegetable gardens to cut food costs.

Read more from the Scientific American by clicking here.

March 24, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Bill would let agencies trump homeowners association rules

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 14, 2009 at 7:27 am

From the North County Times:

Two of California’s most powerful forces —- water agencies and the property rights of homeowners associations —- may be on a collision course.

Southern California’s giant water wholesaler, Metropolitan Water District, is sponsoring state legislation to make ordinances from local water districts trump homeowners association rules. Introduced Feb. 27 by Assemblyman Ted Lieu, a Democrat from Torrance, the legislation is known as AB 1061. No date has been set for a committee hearing.

Metropolitan says the bill clarifies how homeowners can install water-efficient landscaping without running afoul of association rules. With California in a drought and rationing under way or looming in many districts, the agency is looking for any way to stretch out its supplies. But homeowners association representatives say the bill is unnecessary and a waste of time.

The bill concerns landscaping restrictions on so-called “common interest developments,” such as Shadowridge in Vista. These developments contain single-family homes governed by condo-like regulations. Nearly 25 percent of the state’s population live in such developments, Lieu said when introducing the bill.

There have been isolated instances of conflicts between homeowners eager to save water and associations that outlawed particular types of water-efficient landscaping.

Associations fear that if homeowners are allowed to violate such standards, the aesthetic appeal of their neighborhoods will decline, and property values with them.

Read more from the North County Times by clicking here.

March 14, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Going green, without a lawn: Drought-tolerant gardens replacing lush yards

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 9, 2009 at 5:03 am

From the San Diego Union Tribune:

Virtually all the bungalows in Jennie and Chas Rightmyer’s Kensington neighborhood have well-tended lawns out front – part of the American dream, along with picket fences and two-car garages.

But increasingly dire warnings about statewide water shortages prompted the Rightmyers to remove their Bermuda grass. They are replacing it with a drought-tolerant garden that should be completed by month’s end. The couple hope the new landscaping will cut their overall water use by more than 20 percent. “It just feels like the time has come,” Jennie Rightmyer said.

Californians should end their love affair with lawns, said water officials, lawmakers, conservationists and landscapers. Many of these advocates have promoted native plants for years, but they now sense a greater potential for change because of the public’s growing concerns about global warming, drought and ever-rising water bills.

“It’s the beginning of the end of lawn at home,” said Nan Sterman, who teaches a class called “Bye Bye Grass” at the Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon.

Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here. You can see for yourself how homeowners have implemented drought-tolerant landscaping on their properties by taking a garden tour - offered in both Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Find out more by clicking here.

March 9, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Drought Recommendations from the California Landscape Contractors Association

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 8, 2009 at 6:26 am

From the California Landscape Contractors Association:

Landscaping is an important part of any community, not only from the joy it brings, but the quality of life that it provides to humans and other species as well. Plants positively alter our environment, reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, protect the land, provide us food, create oxygen and sustain life. As our climate changes we need to protect our plants, adapt to our changing environment and make choices that benefit us all and preserve our future.

The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) is pleased to offer some recommendations to help you make smart choices and protect the environment using your area’s mandated water reductions. This advice can help your landscape survive this year’s drought and help you prepare for predicted future water shortages.

Water Trees First. If trees are lost, it increases the surrounding temperature making everything hotter. They are also expensive to replace. Many surrounding plants depend on them, because trees offer shade and protection for some lawns and other plants that may not survive the hot sun without them. In addition, they are often homes, shelter and/or food to birds and animals, which could possibly die if they perish.

Some Ways to Maximize Water and Help Protect Your Trees

Drill several 4″ wide holes about 24″-30″ deep around the base of the tree being careful not to damage large roots. Fill the holes with compost, which will allow the water to reach the roots of the tree.

Another option is to put your garden hose on a timed, low drip and get the water down deep. You can also install a temporary drip system tied into a hose bib or use a soaker hose on the surface to slowly water the base of the tree.

What Can I Do Now to Prepare for the Drought?

Mulch heavily all flower and soil beds. Mulch helps keep water in the soil. Do not use rocks/gravel because they add heat to the soil and moisture evaporates faster.

Mow grass (Fescue, Rye, Kentucky Blue Grass) higher - 3″-3.5″ to promote deeper root growth and hold more moisture.

Aerate the lawn and fill the holes with compost so the water can infiltrate deeper.

If you intend to prune, do so before April or don’t prune. Pruning stimulates growth, which needs more water. Existing growth will also provide additional shade to the soil, helping to retain moisture.

Do not use high nitrogen fertilizers during a drought. They encourage growth but the plants will need more water.

Fix or replace any broken sprinklers and repair leaks.

Keep your lawn as healthy as possible. A healthy lawn will survive better. Many lawns can go very dry and still come back.

Attach a water efficient spray nozzle to your hose and use it to mist your lawn to build up humidity for a few minutes at the end of the day.

Check with your local water agency for possible rebates on low water usage irrigation products.

How to Maximize Landscape Watering During A Drought

Start watering earlier and finish before 9:00am.

Set your spray irrigation timer to run half the normal time and run a second cycle at least half an hour later. This will dramatically reduce runoff. Clay and other soils will only absorb so much water and anything beyond that point is wasted water. Average time should be 5 minutes or less per cycle on a level site.

Consider a smart controller, which monitors the weather and adjusts watering accordingly.

Soil may look dry, but may still have plenty of moisture. If a 6″ screwdriver goes easily into the soil then wait to water.

What if I Can Only Water One or Two Days a Week?

Program your sprinkler time for multiple start times with run cycles about 5 minutes each. Repeat the cycles 3-4 times at least 30 minutes apart. If runoff occurs reduce minutes per cycle.

Mow lawns higher and less frequently. Do not take off more than 25% when mowing.

Help your trees get more water as mentioned above.

How Can I Maximize My Landscape Water Savings?

Check regularly for leaks and then fix them immediately.

Incorporate existing water saving technology into your irrigation system. New sprinkler heads and smart controllers maximize water savings.

If you have a water meter, learn to read your meter. It will help you determine if you have a leak.

Turn on each sprinkler zone and see how much time it takes to start generating runoff for each zone. Round sprinkler time down to the nearest minute and set that time as your maximum run time for each station. Program your controller for multiple run cycles.

Runoff means wasted water. No runoff means the water is being absorbed by the soil.

How Can I Prepare for a Drier Future?

Make sure your irrigation system is efficient, pressure regulated and consistently up to date with the latest water saving technology.

Study your landscape and the local community. Examine the long-term survivability of your current landscape and consider incorporating climate appropriate plants.

If your area is at risk for fire, consider adding native fire retardant plants and learn how to protect your property.

Study your environment, the animals that exist within the landscape and your long term needs to help you make good ecological choices.

For additional information about saving water, please go to: http://www.clca.org/clca/about/waterWise.php

March 8, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Riverside homeowners install yard to beat drought

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 4, 2009 at 5:33 am

From the Riverside Press-Enterprise:

Indian Hills residents Buck and Yvonne Hemenway will be going to extremes at their ninth annual open gardens and plant sale March 28-29 in Riverside.

The couple will teach visitors how to change their landscaping to one that tolerates drought. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed a drought emergency in February, and Southern California residents may face water rationing this summer.

For years, the Hemenways have opened their backyard, full of agave, cactus and succulents, to visitors to show how attractive water-saving plants can be. They recently removed the lawn and nondrought tolerant plants in their front yard, replacing them with plantings that will require little water to survive. They expect the new landscaping to cut their water bill by 75 percent.

Homeowners can change the landscaping in their front yards for as little as $2000, says Hemenway. Read the full text of this article from the Press-Enterprise by clicking here. Check out Buck Hemenway’s nursery, The Prickly Palace, by clicking here.

March 4, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Going native provides multiple perks: they use very little water, are easy to maintain, and attract the native wildlife back to the land

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 1, 2009 at 6:14 am

From the San Diego Reader:

Several years ago a friend of mine interested me in native Southern California plants, the ones that used to originally grow in this area. According to a handout from Las Pilitas, a native plant nursery:

“A plant is considered native if it is prehistorically from that region. In the case of California, an important threshold is the Spanish invasion, which started approximately 450 years ago. The Spaniards established dozens of non-native species through agriculture and grazing in combination with slash and burn technology. The introduced species completely displaced the natives in many areas. Native plants could rarely compete.”

Learning this spurred me on to the idea of helping to return our environment to what it once was. Additionally there are several other perks to planting natives: they use very little water, are easy to maintain, and attract the native wildlife back to the land. So off I went to check out Las Pilitas, off the old 395 Highway north of Escondido.

As I pulled into the dirt parking lot, I was met with a few unshaded acres of nothing but black pots. All the plants in them looked the same: like nothing much. They looked wasted, like they were just barely hanging on. Needless to say, none were in bloom. A young woman in shorts, loose blouse, and straw hat approached, “Hi, I’m Valerie. May I help you?”

“Well, yes,” I said. “I want to plant some natives in our yard, but I want the yard to still look green and nice and to have flowers.” Maybe it was the doubtful look on my face. I don’t know. But suddenly it was as if I’d turned on her ignition switch. Valerie kicked into high gear.

There’s a lot of good tips in the article for those thinking of planting a native garden. Read the rest of the article from the San Diego Reader by clicking here.

Looking for ideas? Go on a garden tour, and you can see how other people have implemented drought-tolerant native gardens in their landscapes. There are tours offered in Southern California and the Bay Area. To find out more, click here.

March 1, 2009 · Filed Under Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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Landscape water management best practices shared using online discussion group

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 25, 2009 at 6:12 am

From PR Web:

California faces a drought emergency as do many other places in the United States and the world. For some time now, there has been a wide range of techniques, procedures, equipment and web based water management software available to reduce water use. However, it is not well utilized and not well understood by the landscape professionals. The Manage Landscape Water Discussion group is bringing together experts and professionals from around California, the United States to share their experiences and best practices. With the cost of water rising. it is important to properly budget and control water usage both in Good Times and in Drought Times.

Cupertino, California USA (PRWEB) February 24, 2009 — Michael Arthur Johnson Company is seeking professionals, experts and concerned facilities managers to share information and best practices in the area of Landscape Water Management. Using an online Discussion Group, these experienced people can quickly and easily share their knowledge and practices to find new ways and to utilize existing procedures and tools to manage landscape water in this time of water crisis brought about by the drought in California and other locations around the world.

Good water management is a necessity in times of a drought; but, it is also important to conserve and “use water wisely in the GOOD Times, too”. Water is rapidly becoming an expensive commodity and using it with a budget and a plan will save businesses and home owners big money over time. The value of installed landscape assets is large and they should be protected and managed using the best available theory, technology and knowledge.

Landscapes are over and under watered regularly due to improper watering schedules. Improper watering causes soil nutrient loss, weaker, disease susceptible plants and shallow rooting. Hardscape, like asphalt, fences and buildings are damaged. Mold and fungus are promoted in constant wet conditions with no drying out periods. Landscapes are especially over watered during summer and fall resulting in significantly increased water bills. Proactive planning methods will help budget, enforce, spot problems and report savings.

A water management certification program is wonderful; but this alone does not provide the training and knowledge required by the thousands of technicians and other professionals in the landscape installation and maintenance business. Becoming a Certified Water Manager by itself does not assure that all the professionals in the industry know what to do with the theory. The Landscape Water Management Discussion Group will allow many more persons to be come proficient in the use of water management techniques and tools.

Mike Johnson calls this type of effort Collaborative Competition and says that it is a missing element in business today. Driven by the theory and teachings from Dr. W. Edwards Deming, Mike was a facilities manager at a silicon valley company during the 1986 - 1991 drought and worked with Green Leaf Mapping and Control company to develop the concepts which are now included in the AuditorSoft web based water management software system. This effort saved over 40% in water usage while maintaining a very professional looking landscape design.

Michael Arthur Johnson Company provides consulting and markets products to create customer delight worldwide. They also manage online discussion groups for Healthy Linen Products and Dr. Deming’s famous Red Bead Experiment. They are currently releasing a series of packaged Learning Programs to teach business people to not only Walk the Talk but to Learn to Live the Talk.

February 25, 2009 · Filed Under Conservation, Drought Tolerant Landscaping

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