On Thursday, October 19th, the Board of Directors of Gila Commu
Water-Wise Landscaping
Contest
During 2009 and
2010, the High Country Xeriscape Council of Arizona sponsored a contest
to reward local homeowners for their efforts to install and maintain
water wise landscapes. A number of people have submitted applications
and the Board of Directors selected a committee to go and judge the
landscapes. Please see below for our winners and be sure to click on the
links "More
pictures" below for
PowerPoint presentations of the winning yards.
The results of our 2010
Water-Wise Landscaping Contest:
Honorable Mention: Jan Owen
Honorable Mention: Christine Mercy
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Jan
Owen is a serious rock hound and has used a number of her
treasured rocks in her landscape to add interest, color and
accents. She has incorporated a rain water harvesting system by
collecting run off water from her roof into a barrel. She uses
the water she collects on her
water wise plants. A drainage ditch runs along the east side of
her property and by allowing native plants to grow along it, but
keeping them trimmed low, it gives the illusion of a native
lawn.
More pictures |
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Donna Hickman
and Diane Frederick Bedsworth present Jan Owens, center, with a
check and plaque for her achievement in planting her Xeriscape
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The Owen
Xeriscape sits on a corner lot and is a work in progress. She
has had to work around a bright yellow fire plug and a major
drainage ditch that runs along the right side of her property. |
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The
Mercy garden is new and still under construction. However, it is
obvious that Christine is on the right track and will have an
attractive and easy to maintain landscape. Along the stone lined
drainage ditch that runs from the road to her house, she has
planted succulents in between the rocks. These plants will
spread and with their roots protected by the rocks, they will be
very drought tolerant. Taking care of wildlife is one of her
priorities and there are numerous feeders and water stations
incorporated into her landscape.
More pictures |
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Christine
Mercy, on the right, received a check and plaque from Diane
Frederick Bedsworth and Donna Hickman of the High Country
Xeriscape Council |
The Mercy
garden is a new garden and a work in progress. However, to
establish the foundation for a self-sustaining landscape,
Christine has built an amazing infrastructure using native
stone. |
The results of our 2009
Water-Wise Landscaping Contest:
Residential:
1st Place: E. A. Hofstatter
2nd Place: Eileen Lawson
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The
Hofstatters did a remarkable job of channeling run off rain
water throughout their yard. It is the only watering system they
have besides a watering can that is seldom used, even in times
without rain. They have also rescued many native plants such as
cactus, succulents, and evergreens from construction sites that
otherwise would have been lost. They designed their garden to be
attractive to birds and provide safe nesting areas as well as
food and watering stations. Unfortunately, the perennials were
not blooming when our photographer went to take pictures, but
there is still a lot to look at in this yard.
More pictures |
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Mrs.
Hoffstatter, center, receives her plaque and check from Diane
Frederick-Bedsworth, on the left, and David Wise of the High
Country Xeriscape Council |
The front yard
showing the main water course the Hofstatters built to bring
rain water from the street and the front part of their property.
This wash carries water to their side and back yards. |
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The
Lawson garden is in a contoured area that drains off the top of
a hill. In the past this has caused a real erosion problem. For
the last 3 years they have worked hard to retain the native soil
and catch the water that comes off the hill. They have used
rocks and gravel as mulch to retain moisture for the plants and
keep the roots cool during hot times. "Soil Moist Granules" have
been used for many of the plantings which also cut down on the
amount of water required. The whole garden is on a timed drip
system.
More pictures |
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Eileen Lawson,
center, receives her plaque and check from Lois Hurd, on the
left, and Donna Hickman of the High Country Xeriscape Council |
The entry view
to the Lawson garden in their back yard. The slope is held in
place with a block retaining wall, native stone and a number of
plants to control erosion |
Honorable Mention: Ed & Mary
Quigley and W. Jan Owen
Commercial:
Honorable Mention: Roger Kreimeyer,
North Swiss Village
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