SEPTEMBER 24, 2014
Registration is open for fall landscape workshops and garden tours
SCOTTSDALE – Learn ways to enhance the beauty of your home while saving water and money this winter by attending a Scottsdale Water Conservation Fall Landscape Workshop or Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden Tour. Classes and tours are free and open to all Scottsdale residents.
From “scentsational” and edible gardening to irrigation design and maintenance, workshops cover multiple facets of desert landscaping and are appropriate for all levels of skill and experience. Workshops will be held at the Granite Reef Senior Center, 1700 N. Granite Reef Road, Thursdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
During the Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden tours, Garden Caretaker Bill Casenhiser will guide you through the 5.5-acre desert oasis near Hayden and McDonald roads. The garden is home to over 7,000 beautiful, water-thrifty plants of 200 different species.
Advanced registration is required for all workshops and tours and can be made online at www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Water/Conservation/workshops or by calling 480-312-5690. Confirmations will be provided.
Landscape Workshops
Thursday, Oct. 2: Water-wise Edible Gardening – Get your garden growing in our unique desert environment and discover the importance and details of soil preparation. Master Gardener Cathy Rymer will teach you how to select, plant and care for vegetables, herbs, fruits and citrus for a bountiful harvest.
Thursday, Oct. 9: Program Your Irrigation Controller – Irrigation Specialist Bill Casenhiser will help you take control of your landscape watering with step-by-step instructions. You’ll get hands-on practice setting and adjusting the timer on an irrigation controller.
Saturday, Oct. 11: Drip Irrigation Design and Installation – Simple things you need to know! Irrigation Specialist Jeff Lee will show you how to design and install a drip system and give tips to make it efficient and easy to maintain.
Thursday, Oct. 16: Plant Selection for Desert Landscaping – Choosing plants that are just right for your yard is the key to landscaping in the desert. Master Gardener Cathy Rymer will teach you basic design concepts and plant choices.
Saturday, Oct. 18: Irrigation Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Repair – Get the basics on good maintenance practices, troubleshooting and techniques to keep your landscape irrigation system running smoothly from Irrigation Specialist Jeff Lee.
Thursday, Oct. 23: Container Gardening – Learn how to make the most of your landscape container gardening for your patios and yard accents from Horticulturist and Master Gardener Kirti Mathura. Learn to select plant size, shape and color to create intriguing arrangements. With the right container plants, you can even attract hummingbirds!
Saturday, Oct. 25: Maximize Landscape Watering Efficiency – Irrigation Specialist Jeff Lee will shed light on common irrigation questions and more. Learn how to maximize your irrigation performance and increase your watering efficiency by knowing how much to water and when.
Thursday, Oct. 30: “Scentsational” Gardening – Come familiarize yourself with the best desert-adapted plants to create an enchanting scented landscape. Horticulturist and Master Gardener Kirti Mathura will show you easy ways to create a fabulous “scentsational” garden with fragrant, water-wise blooms.
Xeriscape Garden Tours
See over 7,000 low-water plants on a walking tour (approximately two miles) through the 5.5-acre Scottsdale Xeriscape Garden with Bill Casenhiser, the garden’s caretaker. Tours will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 3 and Saturday, Nov. 1.
For water conservation tips or information on the free landscape workshops and garden tours, visit www.scottsdaleaz.gov/Water/Conservation.
