Low-Water Gardens for the Panhandle

Did you know that if Texans gave up irrigating landscape turf for appearances, cities might not need any more water supply projects for the next 50 years? That's the opinion of Dr. Robert Mace at Texas State University.

There is an alternative to barren gravel scapes: use plants that love our alkaline clay. Concentrate runoff for plants by locating a mild basin shape below pavement or roof downspouts. Supplement with recycled a/c condensate or a simple graywater system.

Open: Creating Dryland Gardens 8 pp., 800 kB

Open: Plants for Dryland Gardens 12 pp., 650 kB

Download: Texas Panhandle Garden Planner excel file, 43 kB

Regenerative Wetlands

Undamaged playas are critical to recharge our aquifer. Specific plants indicate healthy playas, although it is hard to add plants back into the playa soil seed reserve. Can nearby donor garden patches contribute? Explore records of playa plant diversity recorded at different locations.

Also exciting is the proof that using Natural Infrastructure in Dryland Streams (NIDS) can allow more stormwater to infiltrate, more plants to grow, and reduce downstream flooding. Mulloon Institute work in Australia is being replicated here in Texas and parts west. Check out the Ogallala Life information. I'll be helping Will Masters with a training course for planners and practitioners later this spring.

Lets be the change.

Fire-Wise Research

Critical for those near open land on the WUI (wildland-urban interface): the latest laboratory research into plant flammability informs short how-to brochures and a full list of >400 plants.

Which plants flame high or barely catch?

Can I follow best safety practices without stripping my yard bare? What extra protection measures are possible?

Open: How-to-Plant Firewise 10 pp, 2 MB 

Open: Flammability Levels of TX Panhandle Plants, 46 pp., 1.4 MB

Just published in the American Society of Landscape Architects' blog The Field, the first of a two article series:

Open: Fight Wildfire with Maps and Words

Fight Wildfire with Plants coming February 18

Wildscapes/ Native Plants

Gardens can include plants that support and attract local butterflies, birds, and small animals. Farms with strips of native forbs for pollinators reduce winds and increase crop yields. Ranches can host more doves, quail and deer. But to reach any of these goals, design must be driven by biology.  

Design Examples

Past projects include desert ecosystems and rich forests, including subdivisions, new residences and zoning variances. Garden design is sculpting  outdoor space to meld social needs with the realities of wind, rain and sun.

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