Nursery Sees Shift in Attitudes About Water

In June, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger addressed the drought plaguing California. In short, he said California's in a water crisis, and we had better start conserving now.

Dennis Morgan agrees with the governor. Morgan, a 30-year landscape contractor and owner of Morgan's Creek Nursery in Calimesa, says if we don't start conserving water voluntarily, we will soon be forced to.

"It's coming soon," Morgan said. "We've created a (tropical) oasis in a desert."

Most people agree that conserving water and planting drought-tolerant vegetation is a wise idea. But are they following through?

Morgan said yes. He's beginning to see a change of mind-set in his customers.

"They're coming in now asking, `Show us where the drought-tolerant plants are,"' he said.

In Schwarzenegger's address on June 4, his message was dire: "For the areas in Northern California that supply most of our water, this March, April and May have been the driest ever in our recorded history," he said. "We must recognize the severity of the crisis we face."

Calimesa homeowner Le Faucette bought into water conservation years before the governor began pushing the issue. She has planted water-sipping creeping thyme, elfin thyme, and lots of verbena as ground cover. Mulch surrounds her roses to keep water from evaporating.
In her backyard, raised planting beds bordered with concrete blocks stop water from running off. She also composts and waters many of her plants and with "soaker hoses."

Soaker hoses wind in and around her strawberries, green beans and carrots. They're one of the most water-conserving measures a gardener can make, she said.

"They slow down the evaporation and it takes less water for my plants," Faucette said. "I started conserving water two years ago and I have expanded. I used to have more grass, but I've let that die (in her back yard)."

Morgan has expanded his nursery stock of drought-resistant vegetation. And he rates his stock from 1 through 10 with 10 being "the most water needy," said Morgan.

A guided tour finds many plants with 2 to 5 ratings. The bay leaf bush gets a 3.

"It looks, feels and smells good," said Morgan. And it has an added benefit for cooking. "It's used for cooking roasts, chicken, in stews and Italian dishes," he said.

Other drought-resistant plants include plumbago and rosemary with its pine-scented fragrance, both scoring well with a 3 rating. He encourages planting flax, such as Mori Queen and Tom Thumb.

"They are acclimated to this area and add to other shrubs for a soft look," said Morgan.

He points out the scrub oak as extremely drought tolerant. It will grow anywhere and doesn't take much water at all.

"It gets a 1 or 2 rating," Morgan said.

If you're looking to save on the water bill, he's got a few "10s" to avoid. Citrus trees, roses, and tropical plants need lots of water. But for homeowners who won't give up their roses, at least spread mulch around the base of the plants, he said.

"Cedar mulch is the best," Morgan said. "It meshes together and doesn't dry out like bark does, and the cedar wards off insects."

To learn more about water conservation and drought-resistant vegetation, visit these two helpful web sites: www.bewaterwise.com and www.thegarden.org. The garden.org has a list of plants, shrubs, vines, trees, ground cover and turf that are especially drought tolerant.