NATURE CAN THRIVE IN YOUR YARD! Sustainable landscaping in Sonoran Desert – Green Valley News

It seems a no-brainer in the desert that harvesting rainwater would be a common practice.

It hasnt been lately, but as the Southwests dwindling water supplies pose growing concerns, the concept of natural irrigation is blossoming, and in the Green Valley area, thats thanks largely to Charlene Westgate.

A landscape designer for 20-plus years and avid desert gardener for 30, the Oklahoma native has soaked up lots about sustainable landscaping in a climate where temperatures swing from triple digits to below freezing, and when it rains, it pours.

Quite shocked to find Arizona so different from the rich soil and plentiful rain in her home state, she applied her landscape background and 12 years in construction design, then set to learning about Southwest horticulture the hard way, she said.

It seems shes found the formula, if attendance at her free educational talks and mushrooming business clientele are indications.

Her company, Westgate Garden Design, launched in 2016, turned a profit within a year, doubled in 2018 and again in 2019, with no signs of withering. She recently hired a draftsperson, a retiree with architectural experience she met at the local Business Expo.

Westgate just began a spring schedule for her free garden talks at Desert Bloom.

Shes awed by her success. Its exceeded my wildest expectations, primarily by word of mouth, she said. A lot of people are caring about (working with nature).

At age 65, she could be retired. Instead, Westgate dove into and still is discovering new information, connections, resources, business contacts, subcontractors and ways to promote water conservation, whether it leads to a paid gig or just making another conservation convert. She loves sharing, as her ongoing community involvement attests, is making lots of friends and reaping valuable feedback.

Her focus: helping garden enthusiasts create and maintain beautiful yards compatible with nature as well as their interests. Her things native plants, which, to anyone from lusher climates, might sound limiting. Not so, with 2,500-plus native species here in one of the worlds most biodiverse collections.

They can be as colorful, shade-producing and rewarding to grow as anything, and less costly and time-consuming to maintain, Westgate said.

And the process is pretty simple, entailing use of strategically placed passive water-collecting basins and swales (shallow depressions resembling small puddles or ditches), which reduce or even eliminate the need to irrigate.

Landscape designer Charlene Westgate is pictured in the rain garden she designed at Desert Meadows Park in Green Valley. To the right is a good example of a swale, or ditch, which collects rainwater to prevent a portion of the nearby Anza Trail from flooding. It also provides water for native plantings along the way, and habitat for birds and butterflies.

Method in motion

Aliceann and Doug Christy were among Westgates first clients after they retired in Sahuarita following years of relocating around the United States for Dougs job in the railroad business.

The water-saving aspect of Charlenes work, which Aliceann learned of at one of the free presentations Charlene does to acquaint the public with desert gardening, Aliceann said.

The Christy yard was already landscaped when the couple bought their house, but as a Master Gardener studying desert gardening, Aliceann foresaw changes. The existing backyard was equally divided between planting area, hardscape (manmade surfaces), statuary and patio accoutrements.

To me, it was stark, not alive, Aliceann said.

Westgate helped the couple with a plan involving removal of 16 existing plants, transplanting others, and adding a couple dozen new low-water lovers that attract birds and butterflies. Goals were set based on an extensive questionnaire of wants.

Depending on those, Westgate consults her Roladex of referrals for applicable contractors, suppliers and artists for the project and to maintain it. Theres no vested interest in what all will be involved; installations done by someone else, Westgate said. She serves as client advocate through project completion.

Except for some hand-watering to establish a young lemon tree, weve used no irrigation since October, Aliceann said.

Their backyard now boasts several small planting basins lined with wood chips, which keep the soil cooler, feed plantings, attract worms and, of course, retain water.

Aliceann Christy and pooch Sophie with their new backyard, designed by Charlene Westgate with input from Aliceann and husband Doug. They wanted a garden full of life to replace the starker one that came with their Sahuarita home, which was nearly void of birds and butterflies. Out came several non-native plants; others were transplanted and new ones added, along with a mountain stream-like water feature. Already, plants are starting to thrive with water-collecting basins such as the one at lower left.

A new pump-driven water feature trickles gently down the backyards slope, adding to the tranquil setting perfect for outdoor get-togethers, potting plants, reading, and enjoying the wildlife.

A former hospital nurse, Aliceann immersed herself in gardening, crediting her early appreciation to her mother and grandmother.

Theres just something about nurturing something and seeing it respond, she said. Its relaxing. It centers me, grounds me. The yard now reflects rusticity, a little wild, but thats what provides coverage for wildlife.

Aliceann has taken other garden-related classes, including one on creating yard art. In the 10 different states the Christys have called home, theyve sought help from many design professionals and truly value their input, she said.

Lessons applied

Aliceann Christy applied skills learned from Charlene Westgate's shared garden tips to revamp her front yard, removing an olive tree then adding three cactus and various sizes of rock for a distinctly more Southwestern feel.

The front yard is Aliceanns baby. With skills learned from Westgate, shes had a thirsty olive tree replaced with three tall saguaros, large landscape rock and stream-style beds where rain can collect. Westgate said shes enjoyed seeing her spread her wings.

The lifestyle sure beats white-knuckling it on the way to work driving icy roads where she used to live, Aliceann said. Westgate chuckles knowingly.

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NATURE CAN THRIVE IN YOUR YARD! Sustainable landscaping in Sonoran Desert - Green Valley News