Oak Park residents plant water-wise garden
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers NATIVE GROWTH- Oak Park resident Judy McDonald has replanted her front yard with plants that need little watering.

Native gardens are becoming a popular landscape choice for residents and public agencies.

Drought conditions in Southern California and restrictions on how much water will be allocated to the south from Northern California have increased public awareness of water conservation.

Judy and Dave McDonald said goodbye to their green, watergobbling lawn last November, opting for a more waterefficient garden.

"We've been planning on doing it for quite a few years," Judy McDonald said. Although the McDonalds had initially planned to design and install their own version of a droughtresistant garden, they eventually hired a landscape architect to help.

Though the McDonalds had researched plants and colors they wanted in their garden, the landscaper showed them more varieties than they knew existed.

The McDonalds ended up with a colorful garden that, when established within six months, will save considerably on water bills.

McDonald said that many of the plants are California natives, but the few that aren't are drought resistant.

"I went with colors I liked," she said. McDonald, an artist, drew some pictures for the landscape architect of the design she had in mind.

The Mexican sage provided bursts of "purpley, pinky" colors. When the plants are not blooming, the leaves turn to shades of gray, she said.

Red salvia, Spanish lavender, California blue sage, thyme and society garlic add color and texture as well as fragrance to the McDonalds' garden. The sweet pea shrubs in the garden originated in South Africa and are multibranched with small purple flowers.

The lamb's ear plant offers a velvety texture and is drought resistant. It produces light purple flowers on tall spikes, but the foliage is silver.

The iceberg roses, McDonald said, need a bit more water than the other plants, but they can be watered by hand.

The side yard of the McDonalds' water-wise garden includes stepping stones and rocks, adding a natural ambience to the setting. The original bay laurel trees remain, she said.

The McDonalds are so pleased with their new front garden that they plan on tackling the backyard on their own.

"I just felt with this situation in California- with so much building- water wouldn't always be (so readily available)," McDonald said. "Plus, my husband was tired of mowing the lawn."