When you ask most people what they want in their garden, their most common answer is, “color”. One of the best plants that I like to recommend for warm-season color is the coral fountain. Also known as the firecracker plant (Russelia equisetiformis). It has beautiful, cascading foliage that resembles the movement of water. Deep orange flowers begin to appear in spring, the attract both humans and hummingbirds. As you can see, this is not a plant for subtle color – it is dramatic. It looks great when paired with succulents like artichoke agave (Agave parryi ‘truncata’), elephants food ..read more

Shamrocks Aren’t the Only Green Plant to Celebrate in March I hear that wearing green will make you invisible to leprechauns so you can avoid being pinched. Some say it will bring you good luck. Even beyond March and St. Patrick’s Day, green is often used for interior decorating for its calming effect? You’ve likely heard about television guests waiting in the ‘green room’ to relax. It’s also been increasingly recognized that forests and outdoor green spaces alleviate symptoms of stress and anxiety while providing health benefits like lowering blood pressure and mental well-being. Fresh green ..read more

Your journey to creating or maintaining a water-wise landscape is now even easier thanks to the resources provided by the city of Phoenix Water Services Department. Phoenix Water recently collaborated with design experts from Arizona State University to produce free, easy-to-use desert landscape, or xeriscape, design guides that anyone can download. The Desert Landscapes in Your Front Yard guides were created to offer ideas for three typical front yard sizes. Each inspirational design guide provides fun facts, helpful tips, desert plant selections, and even plant substitute ideas.   Spri ..read more

  Saving Water is What This Expo is About Are you interested in learning about water conservation and saving money on water-efficient upgrades? Join us in person on Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 8 a.m. – noon at PERA for the water-saving event of the year, the SRP Water Conservation Expo! Purchase a smart irrigation controller for $60 + tax (retail value $285 or $239.98) Enjoy a mini plant sale by Desert Botanical Garden Discover water conservation products and rebate programs Attend smart irrigation controller and water-related classes taught by experts Learn about water conservation an ..read more

This month, our plant of the month blog features another plant description from a newly revised book, Cool Plants for Hot Gardens by Greg Starr! In his book, Greg features 150 water-smart choices for the Southwest – it’s no wonder why we like the book so much here at Water – Use It Wisely! He includes a fun category of the “Etymology” or the origin of the scientific name, as well as “Field Notes” he has taken (and somehow kept track of) that describe where he found or has observed the plants growing in habitat. Brittlebrush, Encelia farinosa AT-A-GLANCE The yellow blossoms of Brittle ..read more

As we wade into the promising ventures of 2024, it’s time to reflect on the wisdom shared in the past year. In this blog post, we’re excited to shine a spotlight on our five favorite blogs of 2023 that made a significant splash. So, let’s jump right in and explore the top picks that set the tone for water-saving last year. 1. Celebrate AZ Water: A Tale of Two Watersheds     Last February started with great anticipation as the southwest was experiencing above-average winter rains and snowfall. This was especially critical to the Colorado River supplies and the dwindling Lake Mead lev ..read more

  2024 is here and water conservation is more important than ever. As we embark on a new year, we’ve rounded up 10 easy water-saving resolutions, to make 2024 the year of a more water-conscious lifestyle. Whether you’re a gardening guru or just getting your feet wet in water conservation, these resolutions are here to turn your everyday routines into water-saving victories.   1. DIY – Fix Leaks and Drips:   Start the year right by tackling those simple plumbing fixes around your home. Did you know that a dripping faucet can waste gallons of water in no time? Check out these DI ..read more

Bear Grass Plant Description Bear Grass, Nolina microcarpa, looks like a clump of coarse grass, at maturity 4 feet high and 6 feet wide. The leaves are 3-4 feet long and about 1/4-inch wide at the base, narrowing to a frayed tip. The leaf margins are finely toothed. A loose cluster of greenish white flowers appears on a 3-foot stalk that rises above the plant in May and June.   The long narrow leaves of Bear Grass end in interesting threadlike curls.Native Distribution Bear Grass is found throughout much of Arizona, in central and southern New Mexico, and in western Texas as well as in Ch ..read more

  Hi, Water Pals! Wayne Drop here, your trusty water-saving sidekick. Guess what’s on my November radar? Gratitude and giving thanks, of course. This year, I am extra grateful for the water we’ve got in Arizona! That’s why I wanted to share some awesome water-saving activities with you this month so we can turn our gratitude into action. Of course,  learning how to save water can also be an absolute blast, AND is fun to do with friends and family that visit during the holidays. So, gear up, Water Heroes – we’re about to embark on a journey of fun while becoming champions of water co ..read more

It might seem strange to be talking about wildflowers in the fall. After all, most are spring bloomers, putting on their colorful, showy displays from February through April in the Sonoran Desert. What you may not know is that you need to plant your wildflower seeds NOW for spring bloom! Mix your seed up in compost or mulch to help distribute them naturally around the landscape. When you look at how our native desert plants survive our harsh climate and dry conditions, you learn about all kinds of interesting adaptations. Cacti and other succulent plants (like agaves) store water, gray leaves ..read more