Zack's Waterwise Paradise
This first example transforms a yard from a vacant lot to a consciously designed waterwise landscape -- front and back -- that hosts a variety of plants from ornamental varieties to a fruit and vegetable garden.
The bare lot before construction, as seen in this aerial photo, contained a mix of unmaintained caragana, lilac, chokecherry, and some wild grasses and knapweed.
Design
"We designed the landscaping to be low-water-use and low maintenance that allowed for both crop production and a robust array of pollinator plants in an attractive landscape design."
Irrigation
The irrigation design incorporates the use of a 1500 gallon capacity cistern that harvests water from the roof of the house (inset photo), and incorporates a recirculating water feature (think small brook) that attracts a great many birds.
Water feature
Water feature
Vegetation on the property is watered by drip irrigation, supplemented by hand watering when needed. Gardenwerks set up the drip irrigation system and does annual maintenance; extensions/emitters are added for new plantings.
Garden plants
Fruit and vegetable garden
Water feature
The plants include a wide diversity of flowers, shrubs, and trees.
Fruit and vegetable garden
Fruit and vegetable garden
Fruit and vegetable garden
Seasonal vegetable garden.
Fruit trees
Fruit and vegetable garden
Fruit and vegetable garden
Fruits trees and vines include grapes, pears, berries and cherries.