Helena, montana - Waterwise garden tour

 The city of Helena, lying roughly 15 miles east of the Continental Divide, receives about 12 inches of precipitation per year, not quite a meteorologic desert, but close. While many residents still opt for the all-too-common carpet of bluegrass turf, as climate change and a growing population begin to strain the city's municipal water supply, a number of residents are moving away from the conventional landscaping model, and are pursuing gardens both lush and lean. What follows is a virtual tour of some gardens that place a premium on water use while maintaining an attractive landscape.