HUNDREDS TURN OUT FOR HALAWA XERISCAPE GARDEN
OPEN HOUSE AND UNTHIRSTY PLANT SALE
Visitors learn how Xeriscaping saves water and money.

"This is a terrific event for the community and the Board of Water Supply", said Deputy Manager and Chief Engineer Dean Nakano. "It is extremely exciting to see such a large number of people, from all generations, who are interested in conserving our island's most precious resource - water."

Guests enjoyed a full days worth of fun-filled activities geared towards educating Oahu residents about Xeriscape, an ideal method for increasing water efficiency while maintaining a beautiful, lush landscape. Research shows that about 50 percent of the average single-family home's water usage is consumed outdoors. Xeriscaping can cut down outdoor water consumption anywhere from 30 to 80 percent, which means comparable savings in water and sewer charges.

Visitors to the event purchased a wide-variety of unthirsty, drought-tolerant plants, provided by the Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden and over a dozen other local nurseries. In addition to the plant sale, attendees entered for their chance to win a $20,000 "EXTREME Xeriscape Garden Makeover", a contest made possible by Steve's Gardening Service Inc., Rain Bird, and the Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden. The lucky winner will be announced later in the year. Educational Xeriscape workshops conducted by gardening experts, keiki-fun activities, keiki garden planting, informational booths, narrated tours of the three-acre demonstration garden, and a bag-your-own mulch giveaway rounded out the daylong community event.

Proceeds from the plant sale will support educational programs and classes at the Halawa Xeriscape Garden. This community event is co-sponsored by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and the Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden, a non-profit community group that supports educational programs related to water conservation in the landscape.

Missed this year's event? Check out the slide show below for a recap of the event. This annual community event is held on the first Saturday in August, so mark your calendars and save August 7, 2010 for next year's Halawa Xeriscape Garden Open House and Unthirsty Plant Sale!