A new book for 2016 and a Lawn Gone! GIVEAWAY
No matter where you live, whether you contend with drought or are blessed with regular rain, water gives life. As we’ve all grown more conscious of the environmental impact of our gardening practices — from dusting the garden with chemicals to mowing and watering an expanse of thirsty lawn — we’re learning to create beauty that’s more in tune with our changing climate, and that isn’t wasteful of our most precious natural resource: clean water.
While visiting a xeriscape garden near Phoenix last spring, I was moved by an insightful proverb engraved on the rim of a steel container pond: “The frog does not drink up the pond in which he lives.” Nor must we. Now I don’t claim to be a paragon of water conservation, but I’m doing what I can and learning more every day, making small changes that add up to big water savings, and getting more out of the water I do use. I hope you’ll join me on the journey.
The book will come out early next year, in February 2016, published by the awesome team at Ten Speed Press. I’ll keep you updated on its progress. I’m really excited about this topic, and I can’t wait to share it with you!
Right now though, I feel like keeping the party vibe going. To thank you for reading and visiting Digging, I’m giving away THREE signed copies of my book Lawn Gone! Low-Maintenance, Sustainable, Attractive Alternatives for Your Yard, which the Dallas Morning News called “an excellent guide…if this is the year you reduce your lawn footprint or get rid of it altogether.” Here are the details:
GIVEAWAY!
What: An autographed copy of Lawn Gone! to THREE lucky winners
How to Enter: Leave a comment on THIS post and tell me ONE thing you do to conserve water in your garden. It can be anything, from planting some native plants, to collecting rainwater, to using drip irrigation or soaker hoses, to reducing your lawn, to watering in the morning instead of the afternoon. Just one thing. I bet you are doing something!
Who: One entry per person. Open to residents of the continental U.S. only, please, due to shipping costs. I’ll draw 3 winners at random.
When: Giveaway ends at 1 p.m. central time on Monday, February 9. I’ll announce the winners that day here and in a new blog post. Please check back to see if you’ve won.
Good luck to you all! (And thanks to Tom Ellison for sharing his garden, pictured above, with me.)
UPDATE 2/9/15: The three winners, selected by a random number generator, are:
#73 – Cityslipper
#56 – Candice
#55 – Brenda Kula
Congratulations! And thank you to everyone who entered. This giveaway is now closed.
All material © 2006-2015 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I am planting native plants, I don’t water the lawn and I am reducing the lawn.
Planting native, drought tolerant plants.
So far we have 3 rainbarrels!
I use soaker hoses.
I asked for and received a 350 gallon for my birthday. One of the most exciting gifts!
I’ve already got two copies of Lawn Gone, one of which you very kindly signed for at the San Francisco Fling, so don’t enter me in the giveaway. I just wanted to say congrats on the new book, I’m really looking forward to reading it. Although it does rain here a lot more than there, I’m still interested in doing what I can to conserve it.
Thanks, Alison! Yes, the book is for all gardeners who recognize the value of water, like yourself. After all, conservation isn’t just for desert gardeners. —Pam
Yay, I was wondering what you were writing about! I’ve already read your excellent book so you don’t need to enter my name. But I’ll proudly say I’m doing all of the things you mention to reduce my water use.
Jean, thanks! I’m glad to publicly end the suspense, and I look forward to sharing more info as the book progresses, like the title, for instance. I have a working title but will hold off on announcing until I know if it sticks. —Pam
When I cut my grass, I collect the clippings and then spread it in between the rows and around my tomatoes in my vegetable garden. Not only do the the plants stay hydrating by eliminating surface evaporation, but the weeds are kept at bay. Eventually the grass breaks down and gives me rich compost!
Soaker hoses, native plants…
I have a garden of native plants, soaker hoses and I collect rain water in rain barrels….and congrats on your new book!
Thanks, Gail! I’m excited about it. —Pam
I save water as it warms up in the shower and use it for house plants and outside.
Hi very exciting! We do a few things to save on water but the main one is not watering the lawn. It is sink or swim 🙂 I can’t wait to read the new book.
Thanks, Cassandra! I look forward to being able to announce the title soon. —Pam
I collect rainwater. My husband installed 10 (55 gal.) Rainbarrels to catch water from the roof. Would love to send you photos.
Laura, I’m always happy for people to share cool gardening projects with me on my FB page. —Pam
Drought-tolerant plants! My town wisely limits watering, and I’m often away for long stretches each summer, so yay for xeric succulents and native plants!
Congrats on the new book! I have a rain barrel and use drought tolerant plants in my beds.
Thanks, Laura! —Pam
I use a lot of mulch in my vegetable garden to reduce evaporation, and I love native plants.
Thanks for the give away.
I fill little gullies in my decomposed granite pathways with small river rock that doesn’t wash away as easily and slows down the water in a rain storm so it can soak in instead of running off. The stones make an interesting contrast to the granite but still make walking confortable..
I use a lot of hard scape in an interesting way and plant natives and agaves. We also ripped out new builder irrigation system and installed drip irrigation and a rain barrel. My husband is the water conservation representative for our neighborhood in Sun City. We try to set a good example for our neighbors. We send out a lot of information on how to conserve water. We teach how to use the irrigation controllers and use Georgetowns Guard system to monitor their usage. I have learned so much from you already and love to share info with my fellow Garden Club members.
I’m so pleased to hear it, Cynthia. Happy gardening! —Pam
I purposely don’t have a sprinkler system. Sometimes I wish I did, but not having one definitely makes me more water conscious.
I use soaker hoses and am currently planning on reducing my lawn.
Native plants for most of the general garden area & then in my vegetable garden I use a no-till method & use a TON of mulch (grass clippings, leaves, and dead plants)- the decomomposing layer on the bottom really seems to keep things moist, + I have soo few weeds now 🙂 Oh, and I plan on investing in some olla clay pots for keeping the water at the root zone- have heard such great things about them.
We are living in the Texas Hill Country on rain water only. A 30,000 gal tank supplies our home and our planted world. Deer, dogs and drought are our challenges. We are working to restore our land to native grasses and landscaping with mostly native, drought tolerant plants. We do not own a lawnmower or water sprinkler anymore!
Mine is not a plot where xeriscaping in place of the grass that holds several acres together is practical. What does work is grass that can go dormant during a drought and thrive in a rainy spell with no fertilizer ever and judicious high mowing.
I use soaker hoses in all my flower beds and water slow and deep; and lots of mulch. mostly native plants
I would love to win Lawn Gone! I currently use two rain barrels.
I plant native and adaptive plants.
Just added a rain water collection system. Soaker hoses. drip
water to container plants. Pulled up mortared in rock patio and put in rock with 4-6″
spaces so not an impervious surface. Would love recommendations for ground cover to grow between rocks.
Can’t wait for new book!! Love the quote!
Thanks, Hillary. If you’re in central Texas, I find wooly stemodia to be a terrific mat-forming groundcover in full or part sun. It’ll try to cover your flagstones though, so you’d need to take the weed-whacker or shears to it every so often. —Pam
Water in mornings or late afternoon. Planted many native plants and use a soaker hose. Putting in rain barrel in the spring.
Grew up in Tucson and lived in arid New Mexico for 25+ years, so value precious water. I’m a landscape designer and encourage water-wise gardening and intentional lawn, even here in “green” Virginia. I personally use native plants and focus on right plant, right place.
I heavily mulch my garden with straw that has been left out for a year before using it.
Plant texas natives that need less water an hand water them!
Removing lawn and planting with native plants that require less water. That is just one of the many other things I’m doing, but I believe it to be the biggest water saver.
I’ve heard you refer to your book “Lawn Gone” in the past, but have never stumbled across it here where I live. Our climates are very different, but to save water I try to plant plants that do well without supplemental watering once established and I have also planted several trees, both deciduous and conifers in the back yard where I have continuously removed lawn since moving here 12 years ago. I no longer use the sprinkler system in the back yard, but water by hand only those plants that need water.
Will look forward to hearing about your new book on your blog.
Thanks, Laurie. Lawn Gone! has ideas for anyone wanting to reduce or replace their lawn, no matter their climate. It also includes plant recommendations for all parts of the country. If you can’t find it locally, and if you don’t happen to win one here, you can get it on Amazon. Barnes & Noble typically carries it too. —Pam
Congrats Pam! And I’m now wondering who I loaned my second (non-signed) copy of Lawn Gone to? Hmm…well I hope they’re enjoying it!
Thanks, Loree! I hope they’re enjoying it, whoever they are. 🙂 —Pam
Pam i am so excited for you! It sounds like a great book that is very needed! We should all be more conscious about how we use our water. In my job I use plants that are not fussy or needy and will thrive droughts. We help educate our customers about protecting the water supply while making their soil healthier by using organic instead of chemical fertilizer, compost and mulch etc. At home we are working on being thrifty with our water. We have rain-barrels and I use them to water all the porch and house plants. The plants prefer it. We are going to a lecture this week by Kristin Ohloson, she wrote the book The Soil Well Save us. I am always looking to learn more. Can’t wait to read your new book!
Thank you, Laurin! I’m glad to know about Kristin’s book too. I’ll have to look that one up. —Pam
We replaced our front lawn with shrubs, flowers and native trees. Now our serviceberries feed the birds!
I add lots of compost and use a mulching mower. This cuts down on water.
The only thing that is left on irrigation is the edibles in my yard. Everything else must be able to survive the California drought.
Rain barrels for 550 gallons total; planting drought resistant plants; proper lawn maintenance to minimize stress on lawn (keeping it green… while it’s still there…)
Native plants of course!
I keep a pitcher in my sink to catch water as I rinse fruits, veggies, ice cubes from a diluted drink, and use that on houseplants, outdoor plants, or anything else that needs water! I live in the Central Valley in California, and it’s been way too dry here for too many years. Every little bit helps!
Thanks, I love your site!
Thank you, Debbie! —Pam
I already have your book, Pam, so no need to enter my name in the draw but I wanted to offer my congratulations on your new book deal. I look forward to seeing the finished product next year. For the record, I’m doing everything I can to conserve water, from removing swaths of lawn to introducing low water use plants. On the docket for 2015: converting more sprinklers to drip irrigation and expanding my rain barrel collection.
Kris, I have found your posts about your front-lawn removal inspiring, so thanks for sharing that on your blog! —Pam
I have a rain barrel and soaker hoses. Trying to get rid of as much grass as I can, but I never water it.
I put a bucket in my shower to catch cold water while waiting for warm water. I use the bucket water for my plants.
We have reduced our St. Augustine lawn to about 1/8 of its original size, and added beds with native & drought tolerant plants & crushed granite walkways instead.
Mulch, Mulch, Mulch! I like organic finely shredded hardwood ….it looks good and smells good. Some plants, however, such as iris and lavender, do not like wood mulches and so I cover the ground around these plants with stones and pea gravel. I love your blog!
Robin
Thank you, Robin! —Pam
With our reputation for constant rain, it may seem strange that we think of these things. I go to seminars on water-wise gardening and concentrate on adding plants without thirsty ways. You hinted at this new book when I got to spend some time with you at the Fling. I’m excited that it is nearly here. I, too, have read your book, but leave me in: it would make a great gift and at the same time spread the word.
Ricki, with your dry summers, water conservation has really been embraced by environmentally minded cities like Portland and Seattle. There’s a lot other communities can learn from the rainy Pacific NW! —Pam
We only run our sprinkler system once or twice a year to check if it still works. The rest of the time I hand water only the necessary plants. Our lawn doesn’t get a drop and it looks no worse than the neighbors who water all summer.
Living in the Austin hill country in a community that has a shared water well, we have to save water inside and out. We have 2 50 gallon rain barrels and use native plants. I have made little dams on the sloping side areas of the house that slow down the rain and prevents erosion. We inherited a lawn with St. Augustine grass when we purchased the house 20 years ago, but we don’t have to water it much because we have so much shade. There are a few areas that get a lot of sun and I want to put in very drought tolerant plants there, including milkweed for the monarchs.
Congrats on the new book! It sounds like something I should definitely read!
Thanks, Deborah. I look forward to sharing more info about it over the coming months! —Pam
I mulch every spring!
Lucky me! I already have a signed copy of your book. I now have a rain barrel for my gardens and plan to add more this Spring. To reduce my grass lawn, I have created more gardens with draught resistant plants. I cant’t wait for your next book.
Thanks so much, Marilyn! —Pam
Congratulations on the new book!
I do a lot for water saving in the garden but the biggest thing is probably planting with natives–ceanothus, penstemmon, deer grass, and mosquito grass.
Thanks, Paula! —Pam
i take clean water from the house –saved when waiting for water to get hot and so on to special plants or those just getting established
i’ve used drip systems for years, and just removed more grass from the backyard. Native grasses planted will flourish in the water runoff created by the space, never needing to be watered. ????
Congrats on the new book! I have only a container garden, as I just have a large patio and no grass. So no grass to water!
Brenda
Thanks, Brenda. By the way, I popped over to your blog to see your patio garden and absolutely LOVE what you’ve done! You’ve created a beautiful space. I saw your note about wanting to create a small water feature without electricity, and you absolutely can do it. See my stock-tank pond post for details. —Pam
We have the sprinklers and the irrigation line set for 5:30 a.m.,
plant natives and are making plans – the weedy lawn will be removed from the back and replaced with native plants, raised beds on drip and lovely pathways. Thank you for inspiring us!
Likewise, Candice! I’m so impressed to hear what everyone is doing to save water. —Pam
Congrats Pam on the new book. Conserving our precious water is important and we are trying our best. With 5 rain barrels and a garden of mostly drought tolerant plants we are on our way!
Thanks, Sharon! —Pam
I just found your site today! Love it! I rent a home in a neighborhood with a picky HOA. They actually pay some one to go around and photograph the lawns if they are not green or have weeds. They will also measure the grass with a ruler. You can not re landscape your yard with out a pre approved design. They don’t pay anyone to drive around this time of year so I am slowly widening all the bedding areas and paths. I”m hoping to reduce the lawn by about ten percent a year for three years…. with out anyone noticing. It is all so stupid. As a personal protest, I put out some garden art that I hope they hate. ; )
I’ve heard from women who quietly widen beds so that their lawn-loving husbands don’t notice, but your story takes the cake, Christie. Good luck with your subversive gardening! —Pam
I’m excited to hear about your new book, and what a fun idea to get everyone to comment on their methods of saving water! Your readers have some great suggestions. I have sprayed aerobic compost tea several times on the remaining area of St Augustine lawn I inherited, as well as over all of the native/adapted perennial beds I installed shortly after moving in 7 years ago. It has really helped open up my very poor builder-imported soil, so it more readily soaks up water. I’ve spread compost, too, but the tea is so much easier! I’m lucky to live in SW Austin and I can buy it by the gallon at my local nursery. Thanks for your beautiful and informative blog.
Thanks, Maggie. I’m really enjoying all the great ideas in the comments too! Thanks for sharing yours. —Pam
Pam this is exciting news about the new book. I have your book on my to be read list this winter and was just going to buy it so an autographed copy would be a great treat.
I have embraced the water in my garden as I love that proverb too. I have rain gardens and have buried my downspouts to put the runoff back in the garden. I also plant loads of natives for my wildlife garden. Thanks for doing the giveaway and looking forward to the new book.
Thanks, Donna! Your area is a natural for rain gardens, although you see them here too. —Pam
Rain barrel and drip hoses on timers
Ollas, baby!
I use soaker hoses and a timer is placed on the faucet. I only water when its dark . A dense cover of plants in the beds actually reduces evaporation , and I prefer ‘ grandma shubs ‘ – plants that have been used the local gardens since forever -they have shown their worth, being from a time when it was not common to water your garden. Plants in ots and containers are lovely, but I try (try!)to keep their numbers down . In my village our rainwater from roofs is seperated from other sewage in a seperate pipe system – but I collect rainwater for garden use from a smaller shed – even 18 m2 roof supplies a lot . I started the layout of my tiny garden ( around 200 m2) a couple of years ago – and got rid of the lawn straight away. Instead my garden was covered with gravel – it is more like a labyrinth , whith gravel paths zigzagging through beds of roses, trellises and shrubs . Gravel is traditionally for farm-Courts here, so the ‘ paving’ doesn’t look too estranged here ( also a factor you have to take in consideratio IMO )….. oops , this was a looong comment ! thak you for an inspiring blog !
oh; and as I’m from Denmark , do not enter my name in the Draw ! – a very different climate here – the environmental issues are the same , though.
I’m so glad you took the time to share your water conservation practices, Anne. You are exactly right: no matter where one gardens, the environmental issues are the same. We all, in the end, share the same pond. —Pam
I mulch wherever I can.
This year we are putting in rain barrels and we try to plant most xeriscape plants as possible.! Thanks and so excited for your new book!! Pamie G. Canyon Lake area
Thanks, Pamie, me too! —Pam
I live in an apartment with a yard (lucky me!)and I am slowly replacing lawn (which is just a bunch of weeds growing closely to one another!) with creeping herbs. Looks so much better, and smells divine when you walk across it! 🙂
Congratulations! Another book is wonderful.
We’re starting over in a small yard with good trees and bad Bermuda grass so I’m working on getting rid of swaths of Bermuda, replacing the grass with mulch, paths, patio, fountain & terracing, raised beds for native plants and herbs; and converting sprinkler heads to drip for the new gardens. I think of you often since the planning process feels overwhelming.
I was right there, starting over with a new garden, just 6 years ago, Kathleen, but the time goes by fast, and your garden will take shape sooner than you know. Enjoy the process! —Pam
I track rainfall so that I’m not needlessly watering, plus I have mainly native plants. (Other than the tomatoes. One day, I will actually harvest some.)
Congrats on the new book!
Thanks, Liz! —Pam
Like many others I do many things to save water, I’m constantly reducing the size of my lawn, I have drip lines to items that do need regular watering and in times of drought I use rain barrels. It’s been so wet lately that I’m more in the mode of how do I get rid of all of this water! I look forward to reading your book… and your blog! BTW I love the photograph! I’m wary of water features in my yard because of a history of copperheads but I do so love them!
in my garden I mulch, plant native plants, & water early in the morning.
Thanks!
We have been using rain barrels for a least 10 years & have a lot of native plants in the yard that we love!
Mulch!
I hope your new book does as well as the first. I have removed all of my lawn, but not because it drank too much water, I found it boring. Though I will take a water credit for it. I also swear by soaker hoses for those times when the rain is not sufficiently falling.
From your lips to the Amazon god’s ears, Les. Thanks for the good wishes. I find a big empty lawn boring too, but the water savings is a nice extra. —Pam
Excited to hear about your new book! This is what I do to conserve water. Got rid of most of my front lawn; planted natives; made sure I provide the natives what they need to get them well established after installation; mulched; drip hoses; & hand watering as needed. Thank you!
Congrats on the new book! We have returned the back 1/3 of our yard to its natural state, plus I followed advice on one of your blog entries and bought a stock tank at Callahan’s. My water garden (waterlilies, callas, taro, etc) is where I spend most of my gardening time, but after the original fill it almost never requires any water at all. Plus it LOOKS cool and fresh when it’s 100 out.
Awesome, Nance! And thanks for the good wishes. —Pam
How exciting for your new book! Water conservation is such an important topic. I have rain barrels, and I also try to plant the right plant in the right place for what it needs.
Good luck with your book! I hope you get a chance to cover some rain gardens. I just built a large, 3 bin compost system, so I can spread the compost over my yard to reduce watering.
Thanks, Peter. Yes, rain gardens are addressed in the new book! —Pam
Glad to hear about your new book. I have your first book and you have helped me focus on incorporating native grasses (deep roots help conserve water!), and using natives. Even though I have your book, if I were lucky enough to win I would give it to a friend. Another thing I did last year, after I planted shrubs, I inserted in the ground a pvc pipe next the shrubs and I pour water into the pipe to make sure the shrubs get water at root level. I don’t know if that really works but it seemed logical. Good luck with your writing!~J
I’m so glad to hear Lawn Gone! has turned you onto native grasses, Jeanette. Thanks for the good wishes! —Pam
Plant natives, water late in the day
Only 1 thing? Hard to do! I continue to plant more locally grown native plants, I mulch, I use drip hoses, reduce turf each year, shut off my irrigation system…I propagate my native plants and share with neighbors to encourage their awareness and potential for water-wise gardening as well.
Pam, thanks for all of your inspiration!
I live in S. California & have only Natives, succulents and Mediterranean plants. Last summer we had a very hot summer & beginning of fall. I think the answer is to plant so you have trees that provide shade for the other plants.
Thanks for the kind comment, Kim! —Pam
I fill up my watering can with water while waiting for it to heat up to do dishes.
Mulch! And I pour my rinse the dishes water from the kitchen on plants.
Congrats on the book!
Have added rain barrels and converted most sprinkler heads to micro drip and/or irrigation. Next? Lawn reduction here in North Texas.
Here in New England we don’t have a problem with lack of water, we usually get plenty of rainfall. I simply don’t want my plants once thy’re established.
I do have one “trick” for potted plants – I use the dirty water from cleaning my fish tank. As a bonus it has lots of yummy nitrogen.
Thanks for doing the giveaway! Every year I reduce a little more of the lawn and I haven’t watered turf for years now. The nicest grass I have is kept green from greywater from the washing machine. Our town has logical hand watering restrictions for plants, we must water before 10am or after 7pm. Establishing more shade with trees and harvesting rainwater is on my to do list. This is a great topic for many regions of the world!
It is so important to conserve water! We will not have any before you know it. I have no grass only native plants and use mulch and collect rainwater.
Hi Pam – so excited for your new book!! I try to conserve water by using drip irrigation, removed drip from my native-only flower bed (and water very occassionally by hand), and I have a New Year’s resolution to incorporate rainwater collection on the side of my house!
I try to plant only native plants or drought tolerant plants whenever I add new plants to my landscape. As a result, I seldom have to water once the plants are established. There is such a wide variety of native plants that look great in the landscape and wildlife love them!
P.S. I think you made the right choice of photographs for the photo contest!
I’m glad you think so, Brenda. Thanks! —Pam
123 comments all ready! Nice job with your book and blog. Making Austin proud.
To save water,
1. Collect it in any way I can.
2. Ensure the right plant is in the right location.
3. Water deeply, less often.
4. Compost and mulch.
Thanks so much, Caton. 🙂 —Pam
we have a septic system, and I have hooke up where I can use gray water from tub, shower, sinks
I use native plants and follow my local watering restrictions. Can’t wait for the new book!
I collect & use rain water for my plantings.
What a great topic! I try to plant as many natives as possible, use drip irrigation, try to be mindful of the timing of my watering, keep all of my leaves for mulch.
I’m looking forward to hearing more about your book!
I have reduce my lawn by at least 75 percent replacing with mulched flower beds that includes drought tolerant shrubs, herbs, perennials and native plants. I can not wait to read your new book!
I reduced lawn about 30% this year and went xeriscape with native plants. I also installed a rain monitor on my automatic sprinkler system so that it doesn’t operate after a rain.
I always say how much I love your pictures! In my quick scan of the 98 comments so far I didn’t happen to see “west side shade” so I’ll throw that one out if it’s not already on the list. I do hope you’ll address the variation of “zones” of rain in the new book. I also like to say that Central Texas is a “cross roads” kind of place — you can do a lot with our 30 inches of rain but you have to figure out how to tide the garden over during our long, hot, and dry summer! Looking forward to the new book — good topic, and we’re darn close to the City having to reduce our watering allotments due to lack of rain on the Colorado river watershed for so long.
Tom, you’ll be happy to know I address the benefits of shade in the new book. We hot-climate gardeners know how to make the most of that, don’t we? —Pam
Pam, congrats on your new book and all your wonderful books! I love your blog and beautiful pictures – so inspiring! And I appreciate your honesty and humility. Thank you.
I practice all of the water-conserving measures you mentioned (except don’t have a lawn to reduce) plus using mulch of various kinds.
I mulch, use soaker hoses & native plants.
I eliminated most of my thirsty plants and use nexas native and adapted plants from other dry regions. I do inplace composting of kitchen scraps as well as use from my compost pile. Have only a small patch of drought tolerant grass in the back yard. Mulch, mulch, mulch with hundreds of bags of live oak leaves that my neighbors discard and with ground up branches from tree trimmers. I don’t even use my drip irrigation system anymore since some of the emiters are not by plants and I hand water only when absolutely needed in specific spots.
We reduced the size of our lawn, installed native plants, and mulched to save water! Looking forward to your new book!
We have planted native plants and mulch all beds with decomposed leaves from our trees. We only hand water and try to limit even that activity as much as possible. We don’t water the grassy areas, ever.
Dug up half the lawn front and back, mulched, now planting primarily from the austintexas.gov Go Green Guide, limiting the use of sprinkler system, and smile when it rains. Currently contemplating rain barrels.
I’ve planted native plants and haven’t been watering, but I’d love more ideas. Just found your blog via 30 bloggers you should be following from Texas mentioned in Culture Map Austin from the Southern Living list.
I do not water the lawn, and I reduce the amount of lawn in my yard every year. I also pay attention to which plants do well without any supplementary water once established. If they do well, I plant more.
New homeowner in San Antonio. Husband and I plan to create a xeriscaped landscape, so I can devote my attention and minimal water to a container moongarden inside our courtyard.
Pam, I could sure use a “bible” to help lead more hopeful gardeners to xeric nirvana…Last week I traveled from my home in Oregon to L.A. on a mission of xeric mercy, spending 5 days converting my Dad’s front yard (850sf of sloped lawn)into a native & water thrifty paradise. His 1930’s Mediterranean red tile roofed casita now looks more at home in the dry north L.A. hills.
PS: Will you be doing a book tour on the W coast??
I collect water in my home from rinsing veggies, etc. that would otherwise go down the drain and save it in plastic jugs to put on the garden. Saves gallons and gallons of water every week. 🙂