2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest Winner 

Congratulations to Escondido's 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest winner Jeanne R!  

When longtime Escondido resident Jeanne R moved to her home in 2019, she set out to transform the yard full of weeds into a beautiful water-wise garden that would support local biodiversity. Today the colorful landscape filled with California native plants attracts butterflies, birds, and other pollinators. Her drought-tolerant garden is a thriving habitat that now brings joy to Jeanne and her community, saving water.

Jeanne has always loved gardening, and by using plant cuttings and growing plants from seeds, she has significantly cut her landscaping costs. She could create her bright heat-tolerant vision using clippings from friends, neighbors, and family members. "It is easy to start plants from cuttings and saves money if one is patient to nurture the little cuttings," she says. Jeanne has done all planting by hand with help from her grandson, who also built a bird bath for the garden using reclaimed wood. 

Jeanne has chosen to use milkweed plants throughout her landscape, native to California and the host plant of Monarch butterflies. Growing milkweed is a great way to support these butterflies through their twice-yearly migration. Jeanne has been able to watch them enjoy her garden and witness the entire Monarch life cycle right in her yard.

Watering the plants in her yard by hand has allowed Jeanne to save money and water. "Sunshine therapy is wonderful and healthy. Hand watering gets me out of the house daily to enjoy my garden, soak up the vitamin D, and get the exercise and movement my 84-year-old self needs," says Jeanne. Watering plants only according to their water needs dramatically reduces water use in the garden.

Jeanne's landscape is an example of how one can be WaterSmart and cost-efficient when deciding to re-landscape their yard!

For information on how you can enter next year's contest, visit landscapecontest.com

Featured Story: Water News Network

California Native Plants used: Magenta Bougainvillea, California Poppies, Milkweed, Succulents, Creeping Rosemary, Rock Purslane, Sea Lavender, Trailing Lantana

Not Native but drought tolerant: Leyland Cypress, Gazania Daisy/African Daisy, Wax Leaf Privet, Creeping Myoporum, Everest Sedge Grass, Lady Banks Pink Miniature Rose Bush