Though we saw a record amount of rain
and snow this winter, experts say we're
still facing a hotter, drier future.
These weather extremes are prompting
the state of California Save Our Water
campaign to encourage Californians to
make water conservation a way of life.
Something as simple as changing the
way we garden can have a huge impact.
And joining us today our Kate Hayes,
Design Principal and Landscape Architect
of Sacramento based Miraday. And Dr.
June Bondo, Executive Director of
the California Native Plant Society,
they're joining us to talk about
how we can transition our yards
from water thirsty to low water.
California native plants.
Welcome.
Thanks for having us. Thanks for having us.
Now before we dive in,
can you tell us what you mean by the
term native plant and how gardening
with native plants or other water
wise plants can help save water?
A California native plant is simply a
plant that is originally from California.
So these incredible plants have evolved
with our landscapes over time and are
uniquely suited to our climate. And
Save our Water is the statewide campaign
that's looking to help residents make
water conservation a way of life.
And these beneficial native plants that
June is talking about are really important
piece to that water conservation puzzle.
Now some folks think that a low water
garden has to consist of cactus,
succulents and rocks,
but the garden you're standing
in looks gorgeous, even lush.
How does someone make the transition
from a traditional lawn to something
more like the garden we're looking at?
That's right, the cactus and rocks are
a common misconception in California.
Native gardens can be lush and
beautiful and colorful and textured
and green even throughout the summer.
To answer your question of how to do this,
my first recommendation is to start small.
Pick a sunny patch in your
yard or your entryway.
If you want to go the whole yard at a time,
that's fantastic too.
We recommend going to the
website Bloom California.
Org where you can get a
list of native plants.
You can find where to buy those
plants at local nurseries,
and also some simple design recommendations.
We also encourage residents
to go to cowscape.org,
where you can type in your exact
address and we'll give you a list
of localized native plant species
for you to use in your project.
And what tips do you have
for people just starting out.
A low water native plant garden
is usually pretty low maintenance,
but we have three key tips we usually
share to help people get started.
The 1st is to plant ahead of
the rainy season, but plan now.
Late fall and early winter are
the best time to get plants in the
ground so that they get a head start.
So that means that now is a great
time to be thinking about what
you want to plant and where.
The second tip is to choose the
right plants for your location and
to build a custom list that meets
your criteria and reflects what's
likely to thrive in your yard.
And 3rd we encourage people to aim for
a mix of plant types and hardscaping,
just as you would a more
conventional landscape.
So think about shrubs and sculptural
plants for yearround interest,
annual wildflowers.
Can provide fun color and fragrance.
And trees of course provide
both shade and habitat.
And of course we're always
thinking about habitat too when
we garden with native plants,
walkways,
borders,
sitting areas also can provide form and
and space for you to enjoy your garden.
And do you have any budget friendly
options for people who want to start small?
Yes, absolutely.
Local water agencies across California
are offering generous water rebates,
which can include irrigation
devices like controllers that are
designed to be low water use.
So I recommend starting there.
You're not sure what your
local water agency is?
Look at your water bill.
It'll be named there and you
can go to their website and
find the rebate from there.
Some of these water agencies also
offer design assistance programs,
so if you need that professional help,
you can have someone over and
often times they'll compensate
you for that consultation fee.
Information Visit Save Our Water Calm.
Ladies, we thank you both so much for
sharing this valuable information.
Thanks for having
us. Thanks so much.
And we thank you for joining us on San
Diego Living. We'll see you next time.