BOARD OF WATER SUPPLY EXTREME XERISCAPE GARDEN
MAKEOVER COMPLETE

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) in partnership with Steve's Gardening Service today unveiled the new xeriscape garden of Ray and Cyndie Fernandez of Kapahulu, the winners of its EXTREME Xeriscape Garden Makeover contest.

All Smiles. Steve Dewald of Steve's Gardening Services, Contest Winner Cyndie Fernandez and the Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden in the made-over yard.

"Xeriscaping offers an ideal way to minimize water waste while maintaining the beautiful landscapes of Oahu," said Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann.  "I'm pleased to see the Board of Water Supply, like all City agencies, promoting ways the community can help make Honolulu a sustainable and environmentally friendly city."

"I'm so happy with the way our garden turned out," said homeowner, Cyndie Fernandez.  "I never knew we could have such beautiful and colorful native plants and save water at the same time."

Native Hawaiian Theme. The contest winner wanted to incorporate many unthirsty Native Hawaiian plants in the garden.  Steve's Gardening Services installed unthirsty plants like ti leaf and plumeria trees with hibiscus and akia plants.

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.

"The BWS is constantly working to demonstrate how we can all be more efficient with our water use," said BWS Chairman Randall Chung.  "This contest helps us show people how to minimize their water use outdoors."

"Using water efficiently is often overlooked when in the yard," said BWS Manager and Chief Engineer Wayne Hashiro.  "We are continuing our efforts to educate the community about outdoor conservation through educational programs at our Halawa Xeriscape Garden."

Colorful and water-efficient landscape. This yard proves a xeriscape garden can be colorful and vibrant. A butterfly lands on the Ohia Lehua.

The Board of Water Supply, in partnership with Steve's Gardening Service Inc, Rain Bird, and Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden announced the Fernandez family as the contest winners at a yard breaking ceremony at their home on Hoolulu Street on December 14, 2009.

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 Fernandez 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, such as a plumeria, puakenikeni and ti leaf trees along with tihati, akia and bird of paradise plants.  Steve's Gardening also used mulch and installed an efficient irrigation system provided by Rain Bird.  The landscaping company will also providemaintenance at the garden at no cost.  The EXTREME Xeriscape Garden Makeover is valued at more than $20,000.

Irrigation System. Steve Dewald shows Cyndie Fernandez the rain gauge sensor for her new water efficient drip-irrigation system, provided by contest sponsor Rain Bird.