While much of the desert Southwest has converted to water-wise landscaping, Phoenix has been slow to come around. Listen to NPR's Ketzel Levine talk to some avant-gardeners who are taking heat for digging up their lawns.

See a photo gallery of Phoenix landscapes.

A Phoenix neighborhood (or Anywhere, USA).

July 22, 2002 -- Now hold on. Before the entire greater Phoenix area comes after me with a fire hose -- whether it's the lawn lovers or the horticultural avant-garde -- let me say this: Great things are happening in many Phoenix front yards. Nearly half of the new construction going on in the area now features desert-friendly landscapes, and homeowner associations are increasingly interested in a more water-wise, desert-adapted look. Even better for plant lovers, the availability of both native and drought-tolerant plants is on a meteoric rise.

Now that we've got that settled, I also have to say that in Phoenix, lawn is still king. No amount of water is too much to keep it green and that suits lawn lovers just fine, since as yet, there's absolutely no limit to the amount of water they can use. And since water is cheap -- cheaper in Phoenix than in nearby Tucson, where lawn is decidedly not king -- the incentives for getting rid of grass are pretty much nil.

Unless, of course, your neighbors are doing such amazing things with their gardens that your own inevitably parched grass lawn is looking like a real bore. And that's exactly what the area's more intrepid gardeners are doing in communities throughout the region: using flowers and foliage that thrive in the desert heat, look good all year, and need only a few gallons of water per week to thrive.

This is a story that will have a happy ending. Eventually. Water conservation is inevitable in Phoenix, not because water is scarce but because it's being heedlessly wasted. And even the most diehard lawn lover is bound to see the folly of that. Undoubtedly, word will spread from homeowner to homeowner that there are smart ways to water (using sprinklers in the heat of the day is not one of them), that certain types of grass are better drought-adapted than others, that lawn can be integrated as a splash of green rather than a wall-to-wall carpet, and that finally, there is great joy in growing a garden that reflects the inherent beauty of the surrounding desert.

Also in Our "Water In The Garden" Series:

 Read about Water-Wise Gardening.

 Find out how to save time, money and water in the garden.

 And be sure to check out our past reading list for desert-friendly gardening.

Additional Resources:

Riversmart is a stunning new resource for learning about water -- where it comes from, how to use it, and ways to get involved in local conservation efforts.

The Arizona Municipal Water User Association may be a bit of a mouthful to remember, but the link is water-efficient.

Water -- Use It Wisely is an effective campaign by the City of Mesa for desert-dwellers wanting more info on conservation. Scroll down to Water Conservation Office to find their tips and links.

The Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden has a step-by-step guide to removing a Bermuda grass lawn! Also, tips about desert gardening.

The Sonoran Desert Museum, a Tucson gem, offers a delectable, info-rich list of desert plants.

Further Reading:

Redesigning the American Lawn
Yale University Press, 1995


The Natural Lawn and Alternatives
Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 1993


The Wild Lawn Handbook: Alternatives to the Traditional Front Lawn
Stevie Daniels
Hungry Minds, Inc., 1997