Orange County Water Wise Lifestyle March 13, 2016

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K
aren Spurlock was tired of mowing and watering her front lawn so
she did something about it. Back in 2003 – even before California’s
drought wasn’t so severe as it is now – Spurlock ditched turf in favor
of an array of agave, yucca, palms and milk bush plants interspersed
with large decorative boulders and river rocks.
She loves the look – and so do lots of other people.
“In the long run, not having to water will save you money,” Spurlock
said, “and it’s so easy. And once you’re finished you get to look at and
enjoy it.” Not only is her yard attractive and drought-friendly, it also
requires little maintenance.
Spurlock’s Garden Grove yard recently
Orange Cou
nty Stormwat
won the People’s Choice award
Program
er
sponsored th
e
H OC “D
rought, Cam
2
era, Action!”
contest
BY CATHI DOUGLAS
“W
hen we moved from Huntington Beach to Lake
Forest last summer, I consolidated my small potted
succulents into a larger planter,”Lorenzo says. “They grew
quickly – especially the Chandelier plant – and started
sprouting beautiful ‘plantlets’ at the tips of its branches – they
look like tiny flowers.
“I’d never seen anything like that before so I took a photo
looking down at the plant to capture the intricate design.”
ier’
e of ‘Chandel
).
Winning imag
is
ns
oe
alanchoe elag
plant (K
PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEVEN GEORGES
Lake Forest resident Jane Lore
nzo
Most Beautiful Photo of a Dro
ught Resistant Plant award
While Lorenzo was delighted to finally own a home and
design a yard after years of making do with potted plants,
Lynda Wilson of Irvine notes that her yard – pictured in the
Most Beautiful Photo of a Drought-Resistant Landscape prize
winner – is the product of a years-long evolution.
E
ight years ago the Wilsons replaced their
concrete driveway with pavers and remodeled
their front yard, a process that continued in fall
2014 when they took advantage of the Irvine
Ranch Water District’s turf-removal rebate.
“We researched landscape designers with
expertise in drought-tolerant design and selected
Bonnie Smith of Bonnie’s Gardens,” Wilson says.
“With her expertise, we were able to re-landscape
the front corner of our yard. That area was what
I photographed and entered in the contest.” The
Wilson’s water usage has continued to drop,
putting them in the top 20 percent of Irvine’s
most-efficient users with yards of their size.
Senecio Vitalis plants
(Blue chalk sticks)
ta
e stria
r: Alo
Cente
Lynd
Be a Wilson of
au
Ir
Pla tiful Photo vine won Mo
of a D
nt awa
rough st rd
t-Resis
tant
Learn More about the Water Wise Lifestyle at the OC Register’s Knowledge Café: ocregister.com/sections/knowledge-café
Welcome to
The annual
Water
Awareness
Poster-Slogan
Contest and
Photography
& Digital Arts
Contest are
Lifestyle, an ongoing series to help you navigate the
new normal of California’s water resources. Various
water districts will be offering important information
and tips along with rebates and cost-saving incentives
for homeowners and businesses.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
OC GARDEN FRIENDLY EVENTS:
Free events where you can learn about droughttolerant landscape, efficient irrigation and how to
save water and eliminate runoff.
NOW ACCEPTING
SUBMISSIONS!
This year’s theme, “Drip, Drop, Stop”
encourages students to express their water
smarts through enthusiastic creativity.
Students in grades K-12 are encouraged to
submit hand-drawn artwork and original
short slogans reflecting the intelligent use of
water. Students in grades 6-12 are invited to
Orange County’s Water Wise
create digital artwork and photos using
their smart phone, tablet, or computer.
Tell your friends and family to enter for a
chance to win a Nintendo 3DS or one of
four iPad Minis.
The contest deadline is April 4, 2016.
For more information and steps to enter, see mwdoc.com/services/poster-slogan
MARCH 19: 8 A.M. - 12 P.M.
Home Depot - Anaheim Hills
1095 N. Pullman St., Savi Ranch Ctr.
Home Depot - Irvine | 6200 Irvine Blvd.
-------------MARCH 19: 9 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
Tree of Life - San Juan Capistrano
33201 Ortega Hwy.
Orange County’s Water Wise Lifestyle page is brought to you weekly by the family of OC water providers, including the
cities of Brea, Buena Park, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, La Habra, Newport Beach, Orange, San Clemente, Seal Beach and
Tustin, and the East Orange County, El Toro, Irvine Ranch, Santa Margarita, Serrano, South Coast, Trabuco Canyon and Yorba Linda water districts.
The Municipal Water District of OC and the OC Stormwater Program are also participating.
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