California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
Last week the City of Roseville introduced their Inspiration Garden. An existing courtyard garden that was converted into the region’s latest water-wise demonstration aimed at spurring landscape water-saving ideas for the community.
“We recognize the shift in our climate that translates into longer, dryer periods,” said Bobby Alvarez, water conservation administrator for Roseville. “Where we can achieve the most savings is making the switch from turf to a garden that allows for year-round color and texture, and it can save a good amount of water, too.”
Roseville’s inspiration garden includes 300 low and moderate water use plants, and 37 percent of plant species that are California natives. The garden also comprises proper irrigation practices, soil management and mulch, and the right mix of plantings to encourage pollinators.
“We’ve already had visitors at the garden as we pulled away the construction fencing,” says Brayden Mitchell, Utility Exploration Center (UEC) supervisor. “With this new resource, we are working on ways of programming this space with how-to workshops to inspire people to consider this approach in their homes, which helps us all work towards sustainably saving water.”
The reimagined garden will be a community resource and a teaching area for UEC-hosted classes on the latest water efficiency and stormwater quality management approaches. It will include many gardening best practices to give tangible tips – from irrigation efficiency and proper planting to complete retrofits of existing turf.
The city estimates the new garden will save more than 35,000 gallons of recycled water annually.
