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 Xeriscaping is to think the double benefits of low maintenance and low cost. A Xeriscape emphasizes (and thereby "exploits") the natural, localized environmental forces at work around us. The intended result is a beautiful landscape with minimal upkeep, minimal environmental impact, and low energy cost.
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.
Most of Nevada is desert. But it's not just any desert. Our local is unique and geologically inteteresting 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. 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, xeriscaping is good for Nevada!
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