Xeriscape

Thanks yes that's the one. My yard is a xeriscape demonstration site for our local watershed group that celebrated its 5th growing season this year. The other night I took a walk around our small community (village pop: 375) and saw that little bits of yards are moving in the same direction. I hold public events here every summer and let people divide my plants to use in their own yards. I estimate 30 people have taken advantage of this opportunity over the years. The transformation taking place in my yard amazes even me. I still hear most people refer to the project as a zero-scape and I fight that pronunciation every chance I get because I think it reflects what most people think a xeriscape looks like - zero landscape, much concrete and gravel. I live in southern Alberta where I believe climate change will tax water supply even further in the future. I hope that this demonstration project will allow people to understand that there are many drought tolerant plants that can beautify a yard without requiring excessive water or chemicals. I hope the project makes a regional difference. Would be good to have facts to back it up. Unfortunately, any time I would spend on surveys or studies would be gratis and that makes it difficult to schedule into my working hours. I'm open to suggestions.

Claudette Lacombe
www.umbel.ca
[email protected]
403-533-0008

Claudette,

is this the earlier post you were looking for? Now to find that elusive reference (if it exists) . . .

http://cbsm.com/forums/detail.lasso?ID=8101

Subject GIS analysis on Xeriscaping?

Author "Timea Zentai" Date 6/28/2008, 2:28PM

Hello FSBL,

I've been researching GIS tools in understanding how innovative behavior spreads (in energy use). I've heard that there is a GIS analysis in the xeriscape community that shows neighborhood seeds of xeriscaping spreading outward. One neighbor tries, another observes it's beauty and tries etc.... Could anyone point me to the reference? (it's starting to feel like an urban legend).

Thanks,
Timea Zentai

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