I Live in a Very Dry Area but I Still Want a Yard
In some places, water conservation isn't an optional choice but actually a necessity because there is simply not enough water to go around. Obviously people still wanted a beautiful landscape, so Colorado developed a method called Xeriscape to battle the dry conditions and is now being wide spread across the Western United States where water scarcity is becoming an issue. The word Xeriscape comes from the Greek word for dry, Xeros. In basic terms, these Xeriscapes take on an oasis theme where a little water can go a long way if properly planned and organized. More on the Oasis theme, a xeriscape is organized so that plant requiring more water are clumped closer to the point of highest interaction and the more hardy plants toward the outside. This creates an efficient use of water where the more intriguing plants are the center of attention. The water is then provided to the plants using high-tech irrigation systems that conserve water. What if I Don't Love Cacti and Desert Plants?
A common misconception is that Xeriscapes are constructed using mainly thorny dry desert plants,lots of gravel, and not much color. In fact, Xeriscapes can be very colorful, lively, and beautiful, most are. Many scientists have been working on bioengineering lush and colorful plants to adapt to desert conditions. Also, the green industry have been collecting plants from around the world that do well in the desert and incorporating them into these fantastic landscapes. For more information on xeriscapes, here is a neat article from Organic Gardening on the topic.
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