The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) today unveiled the new xeriscape garden of Nicholas and Celeste Barry of Pearl City, the winners of its EXTREME Xeriscape Garden Makeover contest. 

"We absolutely love it, and our kids do too," said homeowner, Celeste Barry.  "Our yard was so bad, our neighbors used to come over to help us pull weeds.  Now they stop by to check out how nice it looks."

EXTREME Makeover Winners! (Left to right) Nicholas (holding Holly), Blaise, China and Celeste Barry of Pearl City in front of their new yard.

Xeriscaping helps to conserve water through efficient landscaping.  An estimated 50 percent of water consumption in the average single-family home is used outdoors.  Xeriscaping offers an ideal way to save 30 to 80 percent in water consumption, resulting in lower water bills for consumers.

"This contest was originally held in celebration of our 20th anniversary of the BWS Halawa Xeriscape Garden Open House and Unthirsty Plant Sale," said Wayne Hashiro, BWS Manager and Chief Engineer.  "But more importantly, we wanted to highlight how xeriscaping can create lush and beautiful gardens while preserving our greatest natural resource."

The Board of Water Supply, in partnership with Steve's Gardening Service Inc, Rain Bird, and Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden announced the Barry family as the contest winners at a yard breaking ceremony at their home on Ahapule Street on November 10, 2008.

Before and After. The Barry yard before the makeover (left). (Right) Post-makeover with xeriscape-friendly plants.

Steve's Gardening Service, one of the contest's key sponsors and the landscape architect in charge of the installation and design, used xeriscape concepts in the Barry family's garden to take advantage of natural climate conditions and to make efficient use of irrigation.  They installed plants that don't need a lot of water to thrive, used mulch and installed an efficient irrigation system provided by Rain Bird.  Steve's Gardening will also provide maintenance at the garden at no cost.  The EXTREME Xeriscape Garden Makeover is valued at more than $20,000. 

It was made possible by the BWS, in partnership with Steve's Gardening Service Inc, Rain Bird, and Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden.  For more information on xeriscaping, please visit www.boardofwatersupply.com or call the BWS Communications Office at 748-5041.