Tomé
A water conservation program featuring author and gardening-expert Tod Hodoba and several local agencies is being offered free to the public.
The drought is making it more important for people to become aware of how they can conserve and manage their water use, a news release said.
The intent is to provide a variety of information about using native plants, reducing landscape watering and use of plants that flourish with little water. Xeriscaping can reduce outdoor water use by 30 to 80 percent, save on electricity and decrease maintenance, the release said.
The program is provided by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Valley Improvement Association.
Hodoba will discuss “tough” plants, those that bloom despite drought conditions and simple ways of harvesting rain to keep water in the landscape.
He and professional botanists, horticulturists and landscape architects keep a list of different plants they see blooming throughout the state, despite the lack of water. Hodoba will highlight those that are good choices for landscaping.
He will supply hand-out materials. Hodoba is a regular columnist for the Valencia County News-Bulletin and has taught native-landscaping at the UNM-Valencia Campus.
Several other agencies will be present to provide information on water conservation, xeriscaping, low-water-use plants and general gardening tips.
The New Mexico State University Agricultural Science Center, Natural Resources Conservation Science, the Alkali Anns Garden Club and the Master Gardeners Volunteer Program will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.
The VIA revised plant list and water conservation information will be available.
The program will be held at the Water Conservation Garden, which was funded under a grant from the Bureau of Reclamation, New Mexico Office of the State Engineer and Valley Improve-ment Association.
The garden was designed to present a water-conserving landscape, as it would look in a residential setting, so that people can adapt these concepts, design principles, practices and plants to their landscape.
The program is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30. The agencies will be there at 6 p.m. and Ted will present his program at 7 p.m.
The Water Conservation Garden is in the Veterans Memorial Park, off De Haan Loop, east of the UNM-Valencia Campus and south of Pasitos del Cielo. Look for blue directional signs. For more information, call Jacqueline at 864-6654, ext. 120.
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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April 18, 2024
