Xeros, in Greek, means 'dry.' But, more than simply dry, xeriscaping is about keeping good company with plants that thrive in conditions that match the water habits of the particular region where you live. So, it's not so much 'dry,' as it is efficient and in tune.
Another way to think of Xeric landscaping is to think the double benefits of low maintenance and low cost. A xeric landscaper looks for ways to emphasize the localized natural forces at work around us. The intended result will be a beautiful yard or landscape with minimal upkeep, minimal environmental impact, and low energy cost. Xeric Landscaping is Common Sense Gardening.
Most of Nevada is desert. But it's not just any desert. Our local is unique and geologically interesting because we live exactly within the transition from High Sierra conifer and hardwood forests to Great Basin desert and range. In fact, Nevada's Great Basin desert is surprisingly unique to world geology, and highly evolved.
One of the distinguishing features of our region is that we live in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada. Put simply: water is not abundant. In fact, water is severely limited. But most definitely, water is present, especially at certain locals and at certain times of the year. And yet, human population growth is increasing rapidly such that our present and future quality of life depends, among other things, upon how we manage the water. Thus, xeric landscaping is good for Nevada!
We can start with a working definition: A "native" plant is one that is either indigenous to the region, or one that acts like an indigenous plant by behaving and surviving well in our localized climate with minimal impact upon the land, with minimal intervention, and with minimal work.
Some people have the mistaken belief that a xeric landscape is one with no plants, as if you would replace an existing yard or garden with river rock or red scoria cinders or white quartz chips. This is not the case. Xeric gardening and landscaping techniques merely take a common sense approach to the relationship between such things as altitude, weather, population density and water.
What's especially satisfying about Xeric Landscaping is that the plants are hardy -- they have the possibility of almost taking care of themselves -- they are interesting -- many are not nearly as common as what you find in the mega-warehouses -- and they are beautiful.
Come in and talk to us. Take a walk through our nursery.
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