Waste Not, Want Not

Using less water to grow and maintain your home garden is more than just the latest eco-friendly trend, says garden designer Soleil Tranquilli. Tranquilli notes that every Sacramento County resident will eventually pay for water based on their consumption—in the wonderful world of metered water.

“You'll be paying more for water if you've been doing the same old thing to your lawn that you've been doing for years,” Tranquilli said.

For homeowners hoping to put less stress on Mother Nature and their finances, Tranquilli and her fellow green thumbs at the Elk Grove Greener Gardens Project are offering a garden tour and festival on April 15 in Elk Grove.

“The whole idea is to show people how great a garden can look without a lawn,” Tranquilli said. “And that it doesn't have to be bare rock and cactus.”

Participants can sign up on the Laguna Creek Watershed Council website to receive a map for the free self-guided driving tour of local water-wise gardens. They can also stop by the Elk Grove Community Garden throughout the day to pick up a map in person or enjoy vendors, workshops, food, educational activities and plant displays.

The will feature only one garden that actually has a lawn. “And the reason we chose it is because they've shrunken the lawn,” Tranquilli said. Each home will include a write-up on why it was chosen and details on the plants.

“You don't have to be an expert—in fact we want those who aren't an expert to come out and take a look,” Tranquilli said.

Gardens on the tour use drought tolerant plants, permeable paving and efficient watering methods. Some people even go as far as getting water audits from the utility company to make sure their irrigation systems are sound.

“Really what we're trying to do is show people how to keep the water on their property,” Tranquilli said.

Some of the landscapes incorporate living space, such as a porch or patio. The gardens will have edibles, such as fruit trees and artichoke plants, with a focus on “flow” and river-friendly landscaping, Tranquilli said.

The day's schedule includes workshops on composting, native plants and pollinators, river-friendly landscaping, irrigation efficiency and UC Davis Arboretum “All Star” plants.

This is the first year the festival will take place, and Tranquilli hopes people come out for some education and socializing.

“We're just trying to bring people into a higher level of awareness of the water and how we use it,” she said. “And save them money, too.”  

The will take place Sunday, April 15 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is free. Festival and tour map pick-up are at the .