xeriscape

Oct. 2nd, 2015 07:52 am
prettygoodword: text: words are sexy (words are sexy)
[personal profile] prettygoodword
xeriscape (ZEER-i-skayp) - n., a landscaping method for arid and semiarid climates that minimizes the need for irrigation.


Including planting only drought-tolerant plants, using mulches, and sculpting the slopes to maximize rainfall capture -- and when irrigation is still needed, using efficient designs. It is too my shame that I cannot point to my yard as an example, but we've never gotten it together to do more than plop down a few native plants and cacti -- there's much more we could do to make for a pleasant plot instead of the bare earth that covers half the place. As for the word, it was coined (and trademarked by Denver Water) in 1985 from xeri(c), adapted for arid climates (from Greek xērós, dry) + (land)scape.

---L.

Date: 2015-10-03 09:47 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thistleingrey.livejournal.com
Is it also too dry for most weeds where you are? That's sort of lucky, if so.

Date: 2015-10-05 02:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] prettygoodword.livejournal.com
Ha ha ha ha hahaha!

Er, no -- we're wet enough we only just qualify as technically desert, which means it's actually pretty lush in this valley, especially along streambeds. We get the bulk of our rain in two short rainy seasons, and during the summer one the weeds EXPLODE with growing fastfastfast while the water is good. Our back yard is ... not pretty right now.

---L.

Date: 2015-10-05 06:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] thistleingrey.livejournal.com
I see. Must be frustrating at times!

March 2026

S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 567
8 9 10 11 12 1314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031    

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Mar. 14th, 2026 11:50 pm
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios