What's X Got to do With It?
By Andrea Peck
X is a magical letter. Xanadu is part myth, part reality and fantasy all the way. Xena, Warrior Princess - she was fantastically tough. Xylophone and xanthum gum are fun. Words beginning with X are the comics of the alphabet. They do not play their sound cards scrupulously. Instead, X has its way with other letters, resorting most often to the all-powerful Z sound. Nevertheless, we accept this crisscross oddity of a letter – perhaps because it so often suggests that what is to follow is anything but dreary.
Certainly xeriscaping is no exception in the horticultural realm and in these dry times it may become less an interesting permutation and more a necessity.
The word xeriscaping has its own saga. A combination of “xeros,” meaning dry and “landscaping,” the term was coined by an employee of a Colorado water department and is currently a registered trademark of the Denver water department.
Xeriscaping is a method of landscaping that focuses on water conservation. Drought tolerant plants and those that thrive in local conditions are utilized. Plants that have the same water needs are grouped together and the framework of the garden is taken into consideration. An area where rain or water collects can be a driving element in plant placement. Rain gardens or swales may direct water and serve as natural irrigation.
Xeriscaped gardens are multi-purpose. Conserving water is key, but so is reducing environmental impact. Slow growing plants are used to reduce trimming maintenance and lessen green waste. Lawns with their heavy water needs and constant mowing are either minimized or taken out altogether. Rock and permeable stone dramatize the beauty of the plants while adding little additional care. Pest resistant plants and local plants reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizer, thereby saving money and reducing pollution.
The design of the xeriscaped garden goes beyond aesthetics. But, this by no means is an indicator that you will be changing from your lovely lawn and rose garden to something, well, ugly.
A well-designed xeriscaped garden is a beauty to behold. In fact, because such care is put into it, I might say that it trumps my own, willy-nilly approach which involves impulse purchases as the seasons change. I'll blame it on the x.
Converting your own garden may cost in labor, time and money initially, but over time, the savings in water, maintenance and enjoyment certainly make up for it.
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SPRING PLANT SALE:
Visit the Paso Robles Multiflora Garden Club's Spring Plant Sale at First Presbyterian Church at 610 South Main Street, Templeton. The day is Saturday, April 26, the time is 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. A wide selection of plants, including drought tolerant varieties will be available. Beautiful garden art (water not necessary!) is for sale and there will be experienced gardeners there to help. Proceeds go to a college scholarship fund which benefits a North County student majoring in horticulture or agriculture.
Advice To Grow By workshops are the third Saturday of every month beginning at 10:00 am.
Calendar of upcoming ATGB workshops:
ATGB Schedule 2014 Jan to June,
ATGB Schedule 2014 July to Dec.
Mark your calendars! There will be a plant sale of drought tolerant, Mediterranean plants after the June ATGB. (JUNE 21)
The Garden Docent Program Has Begun!
Our educational demonstration garden - Garden of the Seven Sisters - will be open to the public every Thursday and every third Saturday of the month from noon to 2:00 p.m. MG docents will be on hand to answer questions about our many educational plots.
Please make note of the following:
- No pets allowed other than service animals
- Rain cancels
- For more information, call or email our helpline - 781-5939, anrmgslo@ucanr.edu
Finally, visit this site if you would like to be notified of upcoming events by email:
http://ucanr.edu/sites/mgslo/Demonstration_Gardens/