Showcasing beautiful, water conserving gardens that use native, adapted, and xeric plants

Sponsored by: Lubbock Master Gardeners Association, a volunteer, educational organization affiliated with Texas Agri-Life Extension Service.

When: Saturday, July 26, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tickets: $5---available at all tour locations. Children free with adult ticket. Proceeds benefit the educational activities of Lubbock Master Gardeners.

Tour Locations

4610 11^th Street

This home has a professionally designed and installed rainwater harvesting system. Special gutters and piping harvest rain from the roof, feed it through a filtration system, then store it in 8 large above ground tanks. The system harvests 4,000 gallons from 1 inch of rain. The stored rainwater feeds into a drip system that irrigates the back garden. The garden, designed by Russ Plowman and Kevin McClurg, features water permeable hardscaping to prevent rainwater runoff, a recirculating fountain, an outdoor kitchen, and a “meadow” with native and adapted grasses and plants. The designer of the rainwater harvesting system will be on site to answer questions. A Master Gardener will demonstrate construction of a simple, do-it-yourself rain barrel.  

 

1916 Aberdeen

This large corner lot has lush landscaping but no turf grass at all. There are two large patios with containers and shrub beds, an herb garden, an alley garden with grasses and climbing roses, and a greenhouse. The front entry uses flagstones and shrub beds instead of a lawn. The most unusual feature of this landscape is the large flower bed that goes the length of the house which contains hundreds of native and adapted plants. This landscape, also designed by Russ Plowman, uses drip irrigation throughout. A Master Gardener will be available to identify and answer questions about native plants.

 

3716 47th Street

This landscape was designed by Paul Nash. The front yard has a formal shrub bed with Indian hawthorns, carefully trimmed dwarf yaupon hollies, grasses, and containers. The back garden replaces the traditional lawn with a beautiful patio and small plantings of waterwise plants. The homeowners have installed an outdoor fireplace as a focal point for the garden. There are many whimsical touches that make this waterwise backyard delightful and fun to visit.

 

Stewart Title/Texas Ag Credit

Quaker and the South Loop

Instead of the usual lawn and sprinkler system, the owners of this property have installed a large planting of cannas, sage, grasses, and other plants. Drip irrigation and thick mulch drastically reduce water use. This is a great example of water conservation in a business setting. A Master Gardener will demonstrate composting and mulching techniques at this site.

5623 88th Street

The centerpiece of the back garden is an unusual “flower fountain” that uses a tiered planter and waterwise plants instead of water. The edges of the yard are defined by a two-tiered raised bed that is crammed with adapted, colorful plants watered with drip irrigation. The lush planting compliments a flagstone patio which replaces most of the lawn area. There is a very small patch of fescue which functions as a design element. This garden was designed by Russ Plowman.

For a chance to see Smartscape planning at work on a daily basis, visit the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce garden located at 98th and Indiana at Ramar Communications.