Don’t miss our list of local gardens for both inspiration and education.
Garden/Garden
Garden/Garden is a project of City of Santa Monica, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and Santa Monica College and consists of two adjacent front yards showing two different approaches to garden design. The “California-friendly” garden showcases native plants, a dry creek bed and efficient irrigation, while the adjacent “traditional” garden includes more typical features brought to Santa Monica from the east. The native garden is using 7 times less water and costs 50% less to maintain than the traditional garden.
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
In Addition to having numerous links to plant guides and inspiring California Friendly gardens, follow the link to bewaterwise.com to discover how homeowners created their own native plant gardens.
H2ouseGarden Guide
H2ouse Garden Guide has a collection of garden tours, galleries, and plants with detailed information and links to create your own plant list and water efficient garden. This site also offers advice about how to conserve water in all aspects of your home!
Publications
Other Publications
- PublicationSacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership’s — River-Friendly Landscape Guidelines — A 60+ page booklet available from the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership and other promoters of ecologically friendly landscaping practices.
- East Bay Municipal Utility District’s — Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates — EBMUD’s beautifully photographed 336-page book features more than 650 native Californian and Mediterranean plants suited to the climate and microclimates found throughout much of California and the West. Over 500 color photos show plants in garden settings that blend well with natural surroundings and reduce reliance on water.
- Theodore Payne Foundation’s Care & Maintenance of Southern California Native Plant Gardens — This publication includes a comprehensive library of California Native plants as well as gardening, pruning, watering and maintenance guides in English and Spanish.
- California Native Plants for the Garden by Patricia Bornstein, David Fross and Bart O’Brien — This book is a recipient of the American Horticultural Society’s Book Award and features more than 500 plants in a comprehensive encyclopedia on native plants and their care.
For additional publications please click here: bewaterwise.com