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Tucson AMA: 2004 Xeriscape Contest
2004 Xeriscape Contest
Tohono Chul Park
and the Arizona Department of Water Resources recognized the winners of the
2004 Xeriscape Contest at a ceremony at Tohono Chul Park on May 13, 2004. Awards were given to
recognize the work of professionals and property owners who have made innovative and
appropriate use of native and low-water-use plants, water harvesting, graywater and efficient
irrigation systems.
The primary reason for this contest is to increase awareness of exemplary landscapes
that are water efficient and to encourage others to utilize these innovative practices to
create beautiful landscapes and save water. The use of Xeriscaping and native
plants is an important aspect of desert-appropriate landscaping and promoting
water conservation in our community.
Kimber DeLorenzo was selected
to receive the 2004 Community Xeriscape Leader Award for her outstanding leadership in advancing the principles of
Xeriscape and water conservation. Kimber brings knowledge,
dedication and tireless energy to promoting Xeriscape
principles in local schools, her neighborhoods and
throughout Pima County. She has worked for years to
teach local school children about water conservation
through Xeriscape gardening. Her work has included helping to build a hummingbird and butterfly garden on Harelson School
campus, which won the National Gardening Association’s
Youth Garden Award in 2000.
Homeowner First Place: Karola Saller
The judges found this yard to evoke a feeling of tranquility
and peacefulness. The owners carefully selected native
plants to re-vegetate construction damaged areas and have
allowed natives to naturally re-emerge. They have
enhanced their yard with lots of color and a variety of
textures through the use of indigenous plants. The owners
can enjoy spectacular views of the Tucson Mountains while
strolling along a trail they built around the entire property.
The use of Mesquite,
Acacia, Cholla, Agave, Jojoba and
Palo Verde also earned the Saller residence an award for the
“Best Use of Sonoran and
Chihauhuan Desert Natives.”
Best Design to Attract Wildlife, J. P. and Debra Bradley
These homeowners have created a
wildlife habitat that includes a
waterhole, vegetative cover, and a
native grassland area that has
become a home to many birds,
bobcats, javelinas and coyotes.
One judge notes that this wasn’t
just a lot of work to create all the
many wandering paths and habitat
areas, but a true passion.
Best Revegetation of a Disturbed
Desert Area, Miriam and Edward
Kirsten
Starting with a barren mound
of sand, this property was
transformed into a jubilant array of
cacti, succulents, trees, butterfly &
hummingbird attractors. The homeowners obviously love plants
and have applied many Xeriscape
principles.
Professional Residential First Place: Joe Billings, "The Landscaping Artist" - Wlach Residence
This exemplary landscape channels water from every
downspout into a “rainwater-harvesting boulder strewn
streambed and natural landscape garden.” -
even the water harvesting is scenic yet effective
where every plant and rock was orchestrated into
place. In a neighborhood with “postage stamp” yards,
driving up the street the landscape stood out with a
stunning native-plant pallet, and serves as a shining
example for the neighbors and now for all of Tucson to
admire and emulate.
Professional Residential Second Place: Dean Alexander, "Blue Agave Landscape" - Amado Residence
Located in the Historic Barrio in downtown Tucson, this
design incorporates a collection of plants that would have
been used historically, such as fig, pomegranate and palm,
and added a water-harvesting cistern to reduce the need for
irrigation. The designer used broken-up concrete as paving
and step stones, added an adobe shrine and mesquite-limb
ramada, drought-tolerant plants such as Mt. Lemmon
marigold, penstemon, aloes and agaves, to complete this
lush and inviting oasis. What started as a winter get away
now convinces the homeowners to brave the summer heat
and stay longer to relax in its ambiance.
Best Treatment of a Hillside, Roberta Braegelmann, "Sonoran Gardens" - Horton Residence
This spectacular landscape in which the attention to detail in the
plant selection, the flagstone installation and the cascading patios
was so beautiful and welcoming that we had a difficult time getting
the judges to leave! In addition, the living space was beautifully
extended. Plus the back area, full of color, was perfectly blended into
the surrounding open space without walls.
Best Entryway featuring Native Plants, Deb Hahn-Butterfield, "Horizons West Landscape" - Stout Residence
This home was positioned so all visitors would enjoy two
magnificent 200-year-old saguaros, add a welcoming
courtyard area complete with salvia,
euphorbia, bird of paradise, mesquites, and hybrid “Desert Museum” Palo Verde.
To promote water conservation and irrigation efficiency the judges have selected three special water
awards:
Best Use of Water Harvesting, Dean Alexander, "Blue
Agave Landscape" - Amado Residence
For the ingenious water harvesting techniques applied at which enabled the yard
to combine the historic barrio plants yet remain a waterconserving garden.
In the homeowner category the “Best Water Harvesting”
award goes to a homeowner - Scott Calhoun who works in the
nursery trade, but has conceived and installed a unique system
including three culvert cisterns to collect water from his Civano
rooftop.
Most Efficient Irrigation System, Horizons West Landscape -
Stout Residence, irrigation design and installation by Steve
Malgren
Steve has done an exemplary job at using separate
valves to establish irrigation zones based on plant water-use
requirements, allowing plants and trees to be watered efficiently.
We are lucky to have irrigation-specialist judges who check the
valve box at every location. Their input is very important to us (along
with water-use reports submitted by applicants) for gauging the
winners.
One of the ceremony's most prestigious awards, the
Distinguished Xeriscape Award, was
presented to Joe Billings,
The Landscaping Artist, for the spectacular
work on the Wlach Residence. This award
honors a landscape design that distinguishes
itself from the rest yet follows our
conservation and beautification goals. The
judges were impressed with just driving by.
The J.D. DiMeglio “Artistry in Landscaping” Award is another of our top awards, and honors a Tucson legend and innovator in the
garden design world. The 2004 award went to
Scott Calhoun who has written a book about his past 4 years of hard work on this landscape coming
out this fall titled, Yard Full of Sun: The Story of a Gardener’s Obsession That Got a Little Out of Hand... (2005,
Rio Nuevo Publishers)
this is a homeowner entry which focused on three “big ideas:” 1) celebrating native plants, 2) saving water, and 3) living outside with style.
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Arizona Department of
Water Resources
3550 N. Central Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona 85012
and the Arizona Department of Water Resources recognized the winners of the
2004 Xeriscape Contest at a ceremony at Tohono Chul Park on May 13, 2004. Awards were given to
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