Desert landscaping seminar aims to spare water, save money

BARSTOW • Landscape architect David Bigler believes that function and beauty can go hand in hand.

Bigler, who will be leading a seminar on desert landscaping at Barstow Community College on Saturday, said he will focus on giving local residents and business owners tips on how to create yard and garden landscapes that use little water.

The principles of water-conserving gardening — or xeriscape — usually include replacing grass with rocks and planting native desert plants or other adaptable drought resistant plants.

Bigler said he will break it down, step by step, in the class, which the college hosts every few years.

“It all can be overwhelming because people aren’t experienced in those areas,” said Bigler, a Fresno-based landscape and irrigation consultant.

The seminar, held at the college Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon, is in collaboration with the Mojave Water Agency, which has helped BCC transform corners of its campus into desert gardens.

The agency has also encouraged locals like Barstow resident Ray Jordan to make-over their yards as a way to conserve water and save money, but also as a means to keep a neat low maintenance look.

Since Feb. 2008, the MWA has given rebates in its “Cash For Grass” program, where people are subsidized $0.50 per square foot to replace grass with low water-use landscaping that meets certain requirements, up to $3,000, according to Tamara Alaniz, MWA water conservation program manager.

Jordan, a property renter with houses in both Barstow and the Silver Lakes area in Helendale, said he xeriscaped one of his homes in Silver Lakes and got $800, which covered a portion of the cost.

“It looks better than a poorly neglected lawn,” said Jordan.

Bigler said that the seminar will also include information on irrigation techniques and soil conditions, as well as a walk-through tour of BCC’s gardens.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4122 or elee@desertdispatch.com

Xeriscape seminar
When: Saturday, March 21, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Barstow Community College, in the Learning Resource Center, rooms one and two.
Registration: Contact Dwight Calloway, seminar coordinator, at 760-252-2411, ext. 7395.
Cost: Free.
More info: Class size is limited to 50 people, on a first come, first serve basis. Textbooks and refreshments will be provided.