Xeriscape gardening or Xeriscaping is a method of gardening in which you pick plants, vines, trees, and shrubs that do not need much water. Xeriscape comes from the Greek word "xeros" which means dry. Many of these plants are drought tolerant and still produce beautiful color, whether on their leaves or on any flowers they may produce. Xeriscaping also means picking plants and vegetation that suit your climate and agricultural zones, which is varied out here.
Water conservation is a HUGE DEAL in California, especially Southern California. We have the great vast Pacific Ocean, but not much in the way of a plentiful source of water for drinking and daily use. Lakes and rivers are low as we rarely get any rain out here. I often forget that San Diego is developed on what was large expanses of arid desert. While living close to the coast means we have morning fog and lots of misty air moisture in the evenings, it does not mean that our soil gets enough moisture for water loving plants.
Water conservation is a HUGE DEAL in California, especially Southern California. We have the great vast Pacific Ocean, but not much in the way of a plentiful source of water for drinking and daily use. Lakes and rivers are low as we rarely get any rain out here. I often forget that San Diego is developed on what was large expanses of arid desert. While living close to the coast means we have morning fog and lots of misty air moisture in the evenings, it does not mean that our soil gets enough moisture for water loving plants.
Recently, water restrictions were implemented by the county and much of our grass has driedup and died, as have many of the plants I got in the spring. Most of the plants I bought with such excitement and hope have also died because I haven't had any time to tend to them.
So, for me, xeriscaping is slowly becoming a way of gardening life now. It is water wise and Earth conscious gardening, AND, my plants won't die when I don't have time to get to my gardening. They will be drought tolerant and KBL tolerant plantst. Ha!
I'm excited for xeriscaping. My friend Lynney does it best, and her garden is an inspiration.
I'm excited for xeriscaping. My friend Lynney does it best, and her garden is an inspiration.
To see what others in Blogistan are up to with the letter X, please check out Jen's blog at http://unglazed.blogspot.com
Hope you all had a great Monday!
9 comments:
lovely garden...i should stick to this type too!
so you've spent some time in Mad City! glad you stopped by my blog...someday i'm coming to SD to visit all you golden girls!
does Lavern the lion only make that sound when she sleeps?
my experience with male goldens is the same...momma's boys, all my girls have been very independent...scroll to bottom of my blog and you will see all my old goldies....
have a great week, look forward to seeing more of your gaggle of goldies!
Good luck on getting your garden into xeriscape shape. I have only recently acquired a green thumb, it was passed down from my Dad and his dad before hand. Lucky for us, we get much much needed rain in Sunny Florida.
I did not know SD was a dessert before being developed...learn something new each day.
What a beautiful garden, boy that would give you peace after a hard day.
xoxoxo
This is a great concept. It makes sense, and I hope it catches on in warm climates. Here, we have an overabundance of "watering," so it's more about finding water-& shade-tolerant plants! XO
Looks absolutely beautiful! Here on the East Coast it has been a really rainy summer - too much rain for my flowers : (
That's my kind of gardening!
Happy Monday to you. :)
Love the garden but- LOVE Laverne and Shirley. How gorgeous are they? A little rubenesque but so are some of my most favorite people. Congratulations! Milo Bear looks so cute with them :)
Wow - you found a word I had never heard before. Does seem like a good concept, rather than thinking about irrigation when water is so scarce. And the result in your picture looks great.
Hey you! That was my word too!!
Your picture is prettier than mine though. Have a good week!
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