The Fresno State Horticulture Nursery (3150 E. Barstow Ave.) will host the City of Fresno’s Water-Wise Plant Give and Take event from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 30.
The eighth annual event is free to attend and will feature area experts and organizations educating the public on water-conserving plants and practices for homes and businesses.
The program will include a master gardener clinic, plant information booths, gardening, irrigation and controller experts. There will also be Mother’s Day kid’s craft projects, student projects, garden art, workshops and a plant sale from the campus nursery.
“This is a great event for the community since it has something for all ages and experience levels,” said Fresno State horticulture technician Calliope Correia. “We will have a wide variety of gardening, landscaping and irrigation experts to answer questions about using water wisely in the Central Valley. It’s especially neat to see the community bring a wide selection of water-wise plants, cuttings, bulbs, seeds and trees to exchange with each other for free.”
Various partner organizations will have information booths and promotional items, and a limited amount of free water-wise plants will also be available.
Parking is available next to the Center for Irrigation Technology (5370 N. Chestnut Ave.).
During the recent drought, the focus on landscape irrigation has increased since it encompasses 70 percent of a typical household’s water use, and much is wasted by inefficient irrigation methods or incorrectly calibrated sprinklers.
Water-wise plants and trees can use two-thirds less water than other plants.
“Many people interpret drought-resistant as dry landscapes with dirt, rocks and cactus,” said Nora Laikam, Fresno’s water conservation supervisor. “But every year, the public is amazed at the array of colorful and beautiful options we have at the event.”
For more information and a list of the 17 event partners, view the event PDF or call 559.621.5480.
The City of Fresno offers an online list of water-wise plants and water conservation gardening tips at City of Fresno – Conservation page.
