High Elevation Gardening Web Log "Blog"

But numerous examples of attractive, lush Xeriscapes abound and many were entered in the 2006 Flagstaff Xeriscape contest. Any landscape can be a Xeriscape as long as water conservation is part of the design.Consider the garden of last year’s contest winner Jon Stinson. His low-water landscape mimicked a lush mountain meadow flowing with native grasses including Arizona fescue, blue grama grass, western wheat grass and spike muhly.

Stephanie Galloway developed a completely different yet equally xeric yard by planting a mix of native and adapted low-water shrubs to create an attractive and abundant hedge that screened her home from the street.

Anne Vonesh fashioned an inviting lawn by thickly seeding low-water blue grama grass. This contrasted nicely with the wildflowers and other native grasses growing at the back of her property. Closer to the house, flagstone provided a nice contrast to the bright green of the lawn.

A collection of long-blooming flowers including daisy, gaillardia, shrubby potentilla, scabiosa, snow-in-summer and hollyhock are part of the colorful borders designed and maintained by Joan Abbott of Foxglove Gardening, demonstrating that Xeriscape can be beautiful.

Skye Sieber received an honorable mention in the contest for her appealing but low-cost garden that featured many low-water perennials such as Russian sage, hummingbird mint, Artemisia, catmint, creeping thyme and purple coneflower.

And prickly? A well-designed Xeriscape has room for prickly plants such as yucca and juniper if these are the plants that you desire. Contest entrant Ray Jordan planted his sloping front yard with shrubby potentilla, hardy yucca, juniper and showy goldeneye adding color and texture to a difficult landscaping situation. He softened the look by growing native clematis on the stonework at the entrance to his home.

You can still view pictures of the winning gardens and other excellent Xeriscapes on the Master Gardener web blog at: highelevationgardening.arizona.edu. Do a search for ‘Xeriscape contest.”

Due to the overwhelming success of the last year’s contest, the City of Flagstaff Water Conservation Office and the Flagstaff Xeriscape Council are offering the contest again. The goal is to highlight beautiful and water-efficient landscapes in our community and to encourage the use of water-efficient landscaping practices.

The contest is open to landscape projects within Flagstaff city limits.

There are three contest categories: residential landscapes installed by the homeowner, residential landscapes professionally installed, and commercial properties. First place winners in each category will receive gift certificates to Flagstaff Native Plant and Seed and Warner’s Nursery, and a one-year membership to the Arboretum at Flagstaff.

Awards will be based on attractive designs that conserve water and utilize the principles of Xeriscape. Criteria include overall planning and design, the use of native and adapted low-water plants, reduced or eliminated turf areas, the appropriate use of mulches, and appropriate and efficient irrigation. The incorporation of water harvesting systems will also be considered. You need not meet every criterion to enter and win the contest.

To enter, pick up a contest brochure at most local nurseries. You can call Ellen Ryan at 213-4827 to receive a brochure by mail, or e-mail her at eryan@ci.flagstaff.az.us. The deadline to enter is July 15, 2007. Judging will take place the first week of August.

Please submit completed entry form to: City of Flagstaff Water Conservation Office, 211 West Aspen Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

By Hattie Braun
The author is the Master Gardener Program Coordinator for Coconino Cooperative Extension. If you have a gardening question, call the Master Gardener hotline at (928)774-1868 ext. 19.