Xeriscaping: native plants and a drought-tolerant yard (LEED landscape in Sun Valley, Idaho)

Sun Valley, Idaho landscape ecologist Kelly Weston likes to make clear native landscapes don't have to be messy. "I have native landscapes that are highly structured next to very contemporary houses". Working in the resort town area of Sun Valley, Idaho (with homes of the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clint Eastwood, Bruce Willis and Demi Moore), Weston has to compete with a golf-course aesthetic, but tighter water restrictions in the area has helped business. Weston also assures that once a native yard has matured- usually within 3 or 4 years- it not only using dramatically less water, but requires much less maintenance than a turf landscape. Here he shows us a LEED-certified landscape (next to a LEED home) in Ketchum, Idaho where annual rainfall is about 15 inches per year.
Original story here: http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/xeriscaping-native-plants-and-a-drought-...

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• xeriscaping
• water-conserving landscapes
• drought-tolerant landscaping
• zeroscaping
• and smart scaping
• native landscaping
• natural landscaping
• pesticides
• herbicides
• water use
• drought-tolerant plants
• drought
• backyard landscapes
• grass
• native grasses
• sun valley
• idaho
• ketchum

[GreedIsYourGod]

I like that they are saving water, but why plant non-edible plants? I saw nothing there that could be eaten. What possible logic could there be for going to the trouble of having a garden and just planting "pretty stuff." Sure you can plant pretty stuff (pretty edible plants.) Why plant poison like that snow-berry? With peak oil coming we need food everywhere. I don't care how much money you have planting stuff you can't eat (unless it is medicinal of helpful to edible plants is foolish.)

[kirstendirksen]

@GreedIsYourGod This home was a spec house and when I shot the video it was still up for sale. So the plants they have there make sense as they're low-maintenance and since no one was living in the home, there was no one to feed. Though you're right about it making sense to grow edible plants. I have another video series with a woman from Cloverdale, CA who tore up her front yard (grass) to plant veggies. (See videos "You can't eat grass").

[kidder101]

That yard is actually really disgusting, to many weeds. I like the native plants though, and nice house!

[grahamc87]

I love how the huge Escalade ESV drives by at 3:20.. :-(

[an00115]

@GreedIsYourGod Perhaps the owner didn't want to do a lot of maintenance in their yard.  Plus planting native plants allows got insects and fungus and other critters to thrive in the yard.

[quarryjoy]

Some ecological landscaping projects are successful. Some video productions are successful. It is the happy and rare thing that both would be offered so professionally. Thank you for sharing a useful and inspiring 9-1/2 minutes. ~ Joy B

[nothingnessx2]

nice job!