Even though Santa Clara County is enjoying the second consecutive year of above-normal rainfall, the Santa Clara Valley Water District reminds residents that water conservation is still needed.
The water district is launching a campaign called “Save it while we’ve got it” to encourage saving water now, while it’s plentiful, to ensure more availability if dry times return later.
“It has been 14 years since the county withered during a 7-year drought, and that makes us overdue for another one,” said Larry Wilson, chairman of the water district board of directors. “We can’t save water when a drought is upon us; now is the time to learn or to re-establish waterwise lifestyle choices.”
Wilson noted that, before a drought gripped Santa Clara County from 1986 through 1992, residents and businesses used about 400,000 acre-feet of water annually. Since the drought, usage has remained about the same despite a roughly 300,000-person increase in population and high-tech business renewal.
The reason, Wilson said, is that most dwellings in the county have switched to low-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads and aerators, and other water-saving devices.
The campaign, which runs through September, will publicize the district’s WaterWise House Call program, which offers free assessments of water usage in homes and businesses in Santa Clara County, with tips for saving water and reducing monthly water bills.
Water surveyors offer water reviews
Trained water surveyors will come to your home or apartment complex and review your water use. Santa Clara County residents can call (800) 548-1882 for an appointment or visit www.valleywater.org for more information.
Plant expert looks at native succulents
The treasurer of the Santa Clara Valley Chapter of the California Native Plant Society will discuss how to grow and care for the California succulents 7-9 p.m. Thursday in Palo Alto.
Paul Heiple, who has a 26-year-long interest in native succulents, is a geologist by training. “Some of the plants I grew from seed are older than my children,” he said.
The genus Dudleya, among others, is a beautiful garden plant for our area and requires little care through its long life.
The free talk will be held in the Peninsula Conservation Center, Raptor Suite, 3921 E. Bayshore Road.
For more information, e-mail GardeningWithNatives@yahoo.com.
Seed-saving talk at Common Ground
Common Ground Educational Center has scheduled a two-hour class 9:30 a.m. June 10 to show home gardeners how to save their own seeds and summer harvests - and how to create their own heirloom varieties in their backyards.
Instructor Margaret Lloyd, who has apprenticed and worked for 2 years under John Jeavons at the Common Ground Research Garden in Willits, will show growers how to identify plants that out-produce or endure more than other plants and to save their seeds to begin developing new strains of vegetables.
Lloyd is a Tufts University graduate and is versed in backyard gardening and home farming. She also provides agriculture support to rural farmers in West Africa.
Tickets are $23 and must be prepaid in advance by mail or in person at Common Ground Organic Garden Supply and Education Center, 559 College Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94306. The center is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.
Common Ground is a project of Ecology Action, a not-for-profit organization designed to support local organic gardening and sustainable agriculture communities, through providing materials and education to home organic gardeners and mini-farmers.
For more information, call 493-6072 or visit www.commongroundinpaloalto.org.
Hawaiian gardens
in California
A California master gardener has written a book showing how easy it is for a homeowner to build an organic Hawaiian garden from scratch.
Barbara Fahs’ “Super Simple Guide to Creating Hawaiian Gardens: For Kama’aina and Malihini” (AuthorHouse 2006) builds on her experience creating a medicinal plant garden near Hilo, Hawaii, from solid lava rock.
Both longtime Hawaiian residents (kama’aina) and newcomers (malihini) can benefit from Fahs’ how-to tips, such as:
• Learn to build a highly productive raised bed in one afternoon.
• Cut fetilizer costs by making free compost with yard trimmings and kitchen materials.
• Tame weeds without herbicides.
• Control unwanted insects and encourage beneficial ones.
For more information and to order, visit www.authorhouse.com.
LAH homes win in landscape design
The California Landscape Contractor Association has awarded its trophy for California’s best landscape installation to Modern Landscaping Inc. of Campbell for work on a Los Altos Hills home.
Mike Hertzer accepted the top honor for his firm. Architect Donald D. Boos designed the project, which include a koi pond and other water features.
A second first place trophy was presented to Modern in the landscape renovation category for another Los Altos Hills residence. Company founder Klaus Hertzer and interior designer Robert Murphy collaborated on that design.
The prizes were awarded Feb. 15 in Los Angeles.
