Water Authority Urges Conservation

From KPBS, Ed Joyce:

The San Diego County Water Authority says conserving water this year is critical. The agency is worried that excessive outdoor watering will draw down reservoir water that will be needed next year. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has details.

It’s Spring and that means many homeowners are busy in their yards. The dry, warmer weather also means more outdoor watering.

Ken Weinberg is director of water resources for the San Diego County Water Authority. He says the cooler, wetter winter has helped people reduce their outdoor watering. But he says that has to continue into the summer to preserve future supplies.

Weinberg: We don’t need to water more than three times a week, we don't really need to water more than 10 minutes for the most part. All of those things can save water. The plants that we put in our yard, we can pick lots of really nice low water use plants.

He says outdoor watering accounts for nearly 50 percent of San Diego County’s residential water use. Weinberg says recent legal rulings and a drought on the Colorado river are pinching imported supplies.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News

Jack in the Box

The Associated Press

Article Launched: 03/19/2008 11:14:21 AM PDT

SAN DIEGO—San Diego-based fast food chain Jack in the Box says it's installing a satellite-controlled irrigation system at its corporate headquarters to help conserve water.

Spokeswoman Roz Guthrie says it's part of an effort to save money and save the planet at the same time.

The new irrigation system downloads weather information and automatically adjusts sprinklers to prevent over-watering.

Guthrie says the company received incentives from San Diego County to install the system. She says Jack in the Box is also studying ways to help its California restaurants reduce water use.

Create a Greener Landscape

Cool article in Kiplingers Finance Magazine:

LINK

Some highlights from the article:

• All together lawns are the largest irrigated crop - 32 million acres
• 1/3 of all residential water goes to lawn irrigation
• California native gardens use 60-90% less water
• Cost is the same for conventional landscape ($4-$7 /sq. ft)

Winning Gardens Go Easy on the Environment

Here is an article on last weeks garden show in Del Mar
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20080309-9999-1hs09winners.html

First Meeting - March 27

So we have finally set the date for our first Ocean Friendly Gardens Subcommittee meeting in March. Mark it on your calenders: March 27th @7:00pm

Aren't you excited? 

We will announce the location later....

Australian Garden

Here is a couple that used drought resistant plants from Australia. The article has some cool pictures too...

G'day Greenery

Beyond Natives

I really enjoyed this article in the LA Times entitled "Beyond Natives".

 The article suggests using plants from other Mediterranean climates if you do not like the California native plants. Plants from Mediterranean climates have adapted to dry hot summers and are ideal for Southern California.

Xeriscape Class

Landscape designer Connie Beck takes the mystery out of xeriscape landscaping and explains the seven principles of landscaping on a low-water budget. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. March 8; Water Conservation Garden, 12122 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon. $30. Registration: (619) 660-4350.

From Sign on SD... Original Location

Showers to Flowers

Take a gander at a this article in the Voice: Showers to Flowers

The article is about using gray water to irrigate home gardens. What is gray water you ask? Gray water is recycled water from sinks, washers and showers. Wiki Article

Sounds like a cool option but I would have concerns about putting soaps and detergents directly into my garden...

Marco Gonzalez is featured in the article..."Gray-water systems are designed to provide irrigation, not potable water. So in some way they work to continue to support the paradigm of over-landscaping our residences," Gonzalez said. "We should be putting in plants that don’t use a lot of water, regardless of where the water comes from."

Wildflowers

There is an article in the North County Times about the vegetation that has sprung up in the burn areas from last years fires. The areas provide a good arena to go check out some of our areas native flowers. However, the article is keen to point out that some of the grasses are foreign plants that crowd out the native plants. In addition, the grasses will pose a fire hazard when they dry out in the summer. 

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/03/04/news/top_stories/1_05_143_3_08.txt

That reminds me that I saw an article in the Wall Street Journal about Wildflowers around the country....Check it out

Deserts in Bloom

Get out there and check out our native flora!

Some Upcoming Events

DESERT PLANT SHOW: A display of more than 70 native plants, wildflower walks, classes and free expert advice on gardening with native plants are just part of the Native Plant Show and Sale from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Borrego Desert Nature Center, 652 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego. Sponsored by the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Association, the event includes special displays, solar cooking demonstrations and samplings of mesquite cookies and ocotillo tea. The Native Plant Day heralds the beginning of a full month of gardening and native plant workshops ranging from an exploration of plants used as food and medicines by American Indians, herb growing in containers, composting, and creating a wildlife sanctuary in your yard, ending in a Desert Garden Tour on March 30. Call (760) 767-3098 or see www.abdnha.org.

LOW-WATER CLASS: A Residential Low Water Use Gardening class for San Diego residents is offered from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the Rancho Bernardo Library, 17110 Bernardo Center Drive. Learn garden design for homeowners, benefits of using California-friendly plants, sprinkler system basics for homeowners, and introduction to irrigation scheduling. The four-hour course was developed for the residential customer and covers the basics of irrigation systems, watering and fertilizing, basic landscape design and plant identification. Register to (619) 533-4136.

WATER WORKSHOP: San Dieguito Water District, Santa Fe Irrigation District and Olivenhain Municipal Water District are offering a free water-efficient landscape workshop from 9 a.m.-noon March 8 at the Encinitas Community Center. Learn about designing and caring for beautiful landscapes that use less water and require less maintenance. Call (760) 633-2650.

FIRE-RESISTANT LANDSCAPING: The City of Escondido-Utilities and other water agencies in North County are hosting a free, three-hour "firescape" workshop for residential customers at six locations throughout North County during March and April. The workshop will describe high-risk properties and landscapes, show how to make your home more accessible to a firefighter in an emergency, how to minimize the chance of damage in the event of a wildfire, and how to identify combustible plants. Douglas Kent, author of "Firescaping: Creating Fire-resistant Landscapes, Gardens, and Properties in California's Diverse Environments," will speak and answer questions. Reservations requested:

6-9 p.m. Monday: California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., (760) 839-4076

9 a.m.-noon March 15: San Marcos, Vallecitos Water District, 201 Vallecitos de Oro, (858) 756-5672

6-9 p.m. March 19: Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club, 17025 Avenida de Acacias, (858) 756-5672

6-9 p.m. April 2: Poway City Hall, City Council chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive, (858) 668-4415

9 a.m.-noon April 5: Ramona Community Center, 434 Aqua Lane, (760) 789-1330

9 a.m.-noon April 12: Fallbrook Public Utility District, 990 E. Mission Road, (760) 728-1125, Ext. 1127.

GARDEN TOUR: The Fallbrook Garden Club hosts its fourth annual garden tour from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. April 5. Vintage cars from the Fallbrook Vintage Car Club will be available for viewing at selected locations. Tickets and maps will be available the day of the tour for $20 or two for $35 at the Fallbrook Historical Society, 260 Rockycrest Road. Proceeds will benefit the Fallbrook Garden Club Scholarship Fund and other community projects. Call (760) 723-3783.

Original post on NC Times - LINK