This week’s book of the week is just up our alley! Originally published in 1992, it is an oldie, but a goodie. The book spoken of, of course, is Xeriscape Gardening: Water Conservation for the American Landscape, by authors Connie Lockhart Ellefson, Thomas L. Stephens and Douglas F. Welsh. We have encouraged users to look into the water-saving practice of Xeriscape, a system devised to create beauty in the garden, but not at the expense of superfluous water. Xeriscape is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary as “a landscaping method developed especially for arid and semiarid climates that utilizes water-conserving techniques (as the use of drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation).” This practice has been widely encouraged, especially in drier, hotter climates. The term was coined by Denver water authorities in the 1970s.

A smart sprinkler controller that can save many gallons of water per year (13,500 gallons per year, according to our friends at BeWaterWise and ConservationRebates), Cyber-Rain is an excellent partner in any garden. Coupled with Xeriscape, the Cyber-Rain smart sprinkler controller can save both water, and can save you on that monthly water bill!

Publisher’s Weekly describes this informative book with a glowing review:

“Garden writer Ellefson, landscape architect Stephens and water management expert Welsh take the reader firmly by the hand and concisely explain how to conceive, design and install a Xeriscape home landscape anywhere in the country. It’s all here, from a comparison of mulch materials to what irrigation system to use–and how to set it up–to mind-boggling lists of perennials, shrubs, trees and annuals rated according to water needs for a score of geoclimatic regions in the U.S. (including Hawaii)”

Published by Macmillan, interested readers can find a vendor with which to purchase this book through Amazon.com and other book retailers. Perhaps this is just the book to read, if you’ve been looking for an interesting and informative how-to on how best to design a climate-appropriate garden, without sacrificing aesthetics. Happy reading!

Book of the Week