Xeriscaping and native plants

[Booko]

Is there anyone else around here into gardening or that has a landscape to maintain that's practicing xeriscaping (low water demand plantings) or using native plants to help support the local wildlife?

On the native plant subject, it's really important to use native plants, because often our native species do not recognize, say, berries that are edible but are on an unfamiliar plant. You could have a yard full of bushes that have berries, and your birds might be starving all the same.

 

[lunamoth]

Is there anyone else around here into gardening or that has a landscape to maintain that's practicing xeriscaping (low water demand plantings) or using native plants to help support the local wildlife?

On the native plant subject, it's really important to use native plants, because often our native species do not recognize, say, berries that are edible but are on an unfamiliar plant. You could have a yard full of bushes that have berries, and your birds might be starving all the same.

I agree completely with the idea of xeriscaping in environments like where I live now. But, like most every other house in my neighborhood, my lawn and garden looks like it belongs in lush New England, rather than the desert. And we water the heck out it. It is wasteful and if I had my way it would be different. But my neighbors would protest and sic our HA on me if I suddenly decided to stop watering and make the transition over. Mea culpa, I do not have the cash on hand to hire a landscaper to do the whole thing over with native plants and would have to do it in stages myself, which I may still do. If I can convince my husband that we do not need a lawn that looks like a golf course. (Not bloody likely ).

 

[lunamoth]

Oh Yeah. As for supporting the local wildlife. The deer eat any annual and half the perennials I put in. I'd like to support less wildlife.

(Actually I do plant bird and butterfly encouraging plants and we have a lot of little creatures that visit our yard.)