There are plenty of great resources to help xeric gardeners plan and plant low-water landscapes that look terrific. Check out the resources listed below to learn more, and though some are for certain regions, they all offer great information.
Southwest Gardening:
I’ve just joined three fellow garden writers in launching a new site specific to Southwest Gardening. Check out our posts on all things gardening in the low, middle and high deserts of the Southwest.
And here are the individual sites of my Southwest Gardening partners:
AZ Plant Lady, a favorite blog from our Noelle Johnson in our neighboring state.
Gardening with Soule, from Dr. Jacqueline Soule of the Tucson area.
HerbnCowgirl, by partner Ann McCormick in the Fort Worth area.
Water Conservation and Drought-tolerant Planting:
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority
Water Use It Wisely (Arizona cooperative campaign)
Bewaterwise for southern California
General Gardening:
New Mexico State University Desert Blooms (and a search component for pamphlets, etc.)
National Garden Bureau (including an extensive list of garden bloggers)
National Gardening Association
Backyard Boss for great DIY ideas for home and garden.
It’s A Dry Heat from David Cristiani in Las Cruces, NM
African Violets and Gesneriads:
African Violet Society of America/African Violet Magazine
Native or Drought-tolerant Plants:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Plant and Weed Identification Sites and Tools:
National Gardening Association Plant Finder
Colorado State University Noxious Weed Identification
New Mexico State University Troublesome Weeds
Weed Science Society of America Weed Identification
Rainwater Collection and Rain Barrels:
American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association
Sightline Institute Article With Links
Texas Water Development Board Report on Roof Material and Water Quality
New Mexico Chile:
New Mexico Chile Association (source for NM chile companies)
New Mexico Gardens and Plants:
Los Poblanos Historic Inn, Organic Farm, Lavender Farm
Native Plant Society of New Mexico
New Mexico Xeriscaping Design:
Judith Phillips’ Design Oasis (designer, author, instructor, activist)
High Country Landscapes, LLC (in Ruidoso area)
WaterWise Landscapes Inc. (Hunter Ten Broeck)
Composting:
U.S. Composting Council (links and resources)
Short-Season and Organic Seeds:
Botanical Interests in Colorado
Drought and Climate Change:
Monarch Butterfly and Bug Identification:
University of Minnesota’s Monarch Lab videos
Texas Butterfly Ranch blog post
Succulent and Cactus Care:
International Euphorbia Society
Passive Solar:
Epsom Salt and Other Myths:
Horticultural Myths from Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University