Common name:Garden Nasturtium
Botanical name:Tropaeolum majus

This annual groundcover/vine and will grow less than 1' tall, but will spread and climb up to 6' tall. Nasturtium has 2" light green leaves with edible, red, orange, yellow, or white flowers that are in constant bloom throughout the warm season. This plant usually reseeds, with new plants emerging in early spring.

Common name:Purple Coneflower
Botanical name:Echinacea purpurea

The Purple Coneflower is a long-lived, reliable standby for the perennial garden. Rosy purple petals fall below the prominent orange-tinged cone and blooms in late June to September. It should be placed toward the front or middle of the border, or interplanted with Ox-Eye Daisy in the cut flower garden. It should be grown in fertile, well-drained soil. The plant blooms well in shade, but does even better in sun. -Holland WIldflower Farm

Common name:Hollyhock
Botanical name:Alcea rosea

This plant grows 4'-8' high and is particularly useful for background screening. It grows best in full sun in deep, rich, well drained soils and can produce a variety of colors of flowers.

Common name:Common Sunflower
Botanical name:Helianthus annuus

Sunflowers can grow anywhere from 6'-15' tall on top of thick, sturdy stems. They have large, dark green leaves with bright yellow flowers with tender petals that bloom spring to summer. The flowers need direct sunlight and a lot of water.

Common name:Silver Mound Artemisia
Botanical name:Artemisia schmidtiana 'Silver Mound'

This mounding perennial will grow 1'-3' high and has medium-sized silvery white leaves with yellow and white flowers.

Common name:Canary Island Date Palm
Botanical name:Phoenix canariensis

The Phoenix canariensis is a large, wide-spreading palm with a crown of many long arching fronds. It needs ample room for proper growth.

Common name:Moonflower
Botanical name:Ipomoea alba

This vine will reach about 25' in length and has large green leaves with white flowers that bloom in summer and fall.

Dealing With Drought

More than half of the water used at your home is for outside purposes. Studies show that on average, half of the water used outdoors is wasted. The leading cause of waste is incorrectly set and poorly managed irrigation controllers. The second biggest cause of wastage is broken irrigation equipment that goes undetected. There are a few basic things you can do to make a big difference in your water use.

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