Coastal Factoid: We can all help minimize the problem of storm water runoff by planting rain gardens

"We can all help minimize the problem of storm water runoff by planting rain gardens -- 6 to 12-inch-deep depressions filled with native plants. ...The square footage of your rain garden should generally be about 20 percent that of the area draining into it. For example, if your roof covers 800 square feet, a rain garden designed to collect all of the roof's runoff should cover 160 square feet. To capture runoff most efficiently, a rain garden should be longer than it is wide, and aligned perpendicular to the slope." - from the Greentips April 2009 online newsletter of the Union of Concerned Scientists. Also see Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Gardens web section.

Garden attendance grows with visitors interested in drought-tolerant landscaping ideas

The Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College is simply amazing and a beacon of hope in our highly populated slice of semi-arid desert.

From Sign On San Diego:

The garden at Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego has been seeing a 69 percent increase in visitors since July as more San Diego County residents seek ways to make their backyards more drought-tolerant, said Executive Director Marty Eberhardt.

“San Diego is going to have to change its whole look,” she said. “It's not something we need to be afraid of. It's something we can embrace.”

It's the only water conservation garden in San Diego County and has received national recognition as a pioneer extolling water conservation in the Western United States.

Cheers to the Water Conservation Garden!

Click Here for the full signonsandiego.com story.

Cindy's OFG

"My Ocean Friendly Garden (aka OFG) is far from complete but is almost there. OFG has already solved the flooding problem and no more muddy water flowing down the driveway is better for the environment. It's 90% planted with either drought tolerant plants or California Native Plants which has saved a lot of $ on water...

To get ideas for plants in my OFG I often visit nature centers, preserves or go hiking and find the plants growing in their native habitat...

Since planting my yard with California native plants I've noticed a number of different butterflies and hummingbirds plus many other birds I haven't seen in my yard before. Birds I've identified so far are house finches, scrub jays, acorn woodpecker, black phoebes, morning dove, mocking bird. I've noticed many of the same birds you find hidding in coastal scrub such as white crowned sparrow, red winged blackbirds and some others..."

Click Here for the full story with a step-by-step description and great details on what types of native and drought-tolerant plants were used. Nice work Cindy!

The Obama's Organic Garden

The Obama Family is planting an organic garden on the South Lawn of the White House tomorrow. The garden will consist of 55 different kinds of organic vegetables and two hives of honey. The White House chefs plan on incorporating the organic produce in the first family's meals.



"The White House appears to be casting the garden as just another strategy to encourage healthful eating."

Link

Efficient Ways to Keep Your Yard Healthy

This article by Planet Green offers a few tips to keep your lawn and garden healthy through a drought. By mulching flower beds and only watering before 9:00am, the normal household can reduce their water use drastically.

"If you can easily jab a 6 inch screwdriver into your lawn, you can wait a week before watering."

Planet Green Tips Link

How to Make Your Landscaping More Water-Wise

Courtesy of the Water Conservation Garden and KPBS.

Brian had a great quote at the Core Volunteer Training last night: "California is beautiful as it is so we should use more native plants" Ok, so maybe I did not quote him exactly, but that was the message for sure. Not only do native plants help save water, they can also look good (Califonia poppy) and smell great (various types of sage).

Click Here for the video and full story.

San Diegans Deciding to Remove Their Lawns

Many San Diegans are making the big decision to tear up their lawns and replace them with drought resistant gardens. The Rightmyer family is hoping to cut their water use by more than 20% by just replacing their lawn. Just in California lawns soak up about 1.5 million acre-feet of water per year – equal to the amount used by 3 million typical homes.

"Californians should end their love affair with lawns, said water officials, lawmakers, conservationists and landscapers."

Here is the link to the story.