Talking about the birds and the bees
Give some love to biodiversity with your own native pollinator garden
Native plants and pollinators depend on each other for survival — each one struggling to live without the other. Sadly, both populations are in decline.
Native plants rely on indigenous birds, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other species to reproduce; while native pollinators depend on naturally occurring plants for food, shelter, and to support their natural lifecycle.
You can help restore their numbers by adding California native plants to your landscape. Even a native plant potted on your porch can help.
Go to calscape.org to search for plants native to our Orange County climate. Many native seeds, available online, will still germinate even when planted in late winter. For potted varieties, a list of local native plant nurseries can be found at IRWD.com/landscape. Be sure to check out Episode 1 of IRWD’s Shed Show series for some entertaining tips at IRWD.com/shedshow.
Native pollinator gardens make a beeautiful addition to any landscape, and once established, they require very little irrigation. Plant yours to help nature and save water.
This article was originally published in Pipelines, IRWD's monthly customer newsletter. Read more and sign up for other newsletters
Moon gardens come alive at night with a celestial glow
Night falls early in winter, taking the spotlight off our landscapes. Why not add some dazzle to your yard with plants that glisten in the moonlight?
Billowy white blossoms and shimmering silver leaves reflect the moon’s rays to create an ethereal quality perfect for nighttime enjoyment. Shasta daisies, sweet alyssum and white lupine are some show-stopping choices, while lamb’s ear, dusty miller and sage add a subtle silver sheen that plays with light and shadow.
Night-bloomers like the moonflower and dragonfruit cactus wait until dusk to slowly open their blossoms to the night, emitting intoxicating scents similar to citrus and coconut to attract nocturnal pollinators.
The tuberose is a succulent revered for its beauty, with tall stalks topped with flowery clusters that produce a sweet honey nocturnal scent.
Plant these and others in your garden to create a dreamy, peaceful retreat, and consider soft gentle lighting to enhance the mood—casting your landscape in a new light— when it’s dark.
This article was originally published in The Dirt, IRWD's quarterly gardening newsletter. Read more and sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox
Calling all water-wise junior artists!
Do you know a budding artist in grades K–12?
Students in our service area have until Feb. 26 (deadline extended!) to enter the annual water awareness poster contest for a chance to win great prizes!
The contest has three rounds. First, IRWD staff judges local entries and selects finalists, honoring them with a certificate, a special gift, and a chance to be published in the IRWD coloring book. IRWD finalists then move on to an Orange County competition, and those finalists compete at the Southern California level.
Grand prize winners have a chance to win an iPad and be published in the annual “Being Water Wise is…” student art calendar.
This year’s theme is “Save Blue. Live Green.”
To review the rules and enter the 2024 contest, visit IRWD.com/postercontest.
Fire threat sparks couple’s landscape transformation
There’s a balance of emotions, living close to the nature of Santiago Canyon.
Since 1992, Gene and Connie Stannard have resided in Portola Hills on the edge of this brushy wilderness — enjoying visits from scrub jays, owls, eagles and woodpeckers, along with the occasional bat, rattlesnake, deer or mountain lion.
Fire has been an unwelcome visitor, ravaging the canyon in 2007, then again in 2017. In 2020, Gene and Connie watched as towering flames whipped and crackled through the brush behind their home, this time storming across the canyon from Whiting Ranch right up to their property line. When the couple later got word that their homeowners insurance was about to be cancelled, they rushed to fire-proof the house and firescape their yard.
They filled out an online application for IRWD’s turf rebate and, after getting the go-ahead from District staff, removed 1,325 square feet of lawn using a sod cutter Gene rented from Home Depot.
The Stannards, who recently celebrated their 50th anniversary, are hard-core do-it-yourselfers, their labors of love frequently acknowledged by neighbors impressed with the heart they put into their transformation.
River rock of various sizes was used to create three dry creek beds on the property, comprising 12,000 pounds of stones large and small that the couple laid, one-by-one, by hand. Berms were built to form contours in the ground to capture rainfall and control irrigation runoff. A variety of succulents — many of which were propagated by Connie — were planted to add color to the landscape.
“We did everything except the drip irrigation,” said Connie.
Gene says he’s frequently asked if he’ll help neighbors with their yards.
“I always say no,” Gene said with a laugh, “but I’ll tell you how.”
His best advice: Be smart and don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Visit IRWD.com/landscape for online tools to help with your landscape transformation.
Keep your pipes happy during the holidays
The holiday season is here, which could mean lots of time in the kitchen. Clogged drains can lead to problems you don’t want. To prevent a sewer catastrophe, here are some things to remember.
• Fats, oils and grease — known as FOG — should never be poured down the drain. That includes meat fats, cooking oil, butter and margarine, sauces, soups, dairy products and even baked goods.
• Place leftover grease in containers with lids and throw them away on trash pick-up day.
• Educate early! Check out IRWD’s FOG Song for kids.
For more information about sewers and FOG, go to IRWD.com/fog.
