The Fresno State Horticulture Nursery will host the City of Fresno’s Water-wise Give and Take plant event from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday, May 2 in the nursery’s adjacent park (3150 E. Barstow Ave.).

The seventh annual event is free and intended to educate the community on water-conserving landscapes, plants and practices for businesses and homes by area experts and organizations.

The program will include a master gardener clinic; plant information booths; gardening, irrigation and controller experts; Mother’s Day kids’ crafts and student projects; garden art; workshops; and a plant sale from the campus nursery.

“This is an exciting opportunity to answer questions about using water wisely in the Central Valley,” said Calliope Correia, Fresno State horticulture technician. “There is a wide cross-section of experts from all areas from gardening, landscaping, irrigation and the USDA — so there’s a lot we can learn from each other. This event gets bigger and bigger every year, and we’re expecting an even larger turnout this year.”

Gardeners who bring water-wise plants, cuttings, bulbs, seeds and trees to exchange with other guests will receive a special gift from the City of Fresno.

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 on the north side of the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market (5368 N. Chestnut Ave).

During the state-wide 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.

Households can also save water without sacrificing a beautiful landscape by planting water-wise San Joaquin Valley-friendly plants and trees that 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 that conserve water and can save them money.”

For more information and a list of the 18 event partners, visit water wise 2015 and City of Fresno:Free Give and Take Plant Event Offers Water-Wise Landscaping Tips, or call 559.621.5480.

The City of Fresno offers an online list of water-wise plants and water conservation gardening tips at http://bit.ly/1DyzBcD .