Drought Tolerant Garden Resources

With one of the worst droughts upon us that California has seen, it is never too late for resources to update your garden, help support what you have an find new ways to conserve.

Evergreen Nursery (http://www NULL.theevergreennursery NULL.com/) is a local garden staple and often offers classes on gardening basics, California Native planting and June 28th, they happen to be hosting a class on Drought Sustainable Gardening (http://www NULL.theevergreennursery NULL.com/events/drought-sustainable-gardening/).   They have additional tips on:

• Drought Tolerant Plants (http://www NULL.theevergreennursery NULL.com/2014/06/09/drought-tolerant-plants-2/)
• The Benefits of Mulching (http://www NULL.theevergreennursery NULL.com/2014/06/09/benefits-mulching/)
• Watering Wisely (http://www NULL.theevergreennursery NULL.com/2014/06/09/watering-wisely/)

Another great resource is the Grand Lake Ace Hardware & Nursery (http://www NULL.yelp NULL.com/biz/grand-lake-ace-hardware-nursery-oakland-2).  They are consistently written up in the San Francisco Chronicle and other local blogs as a great place to go for California Natives and plants that thrive in our East Bay and Oakland Micro Climates.

Another resource, especially for vegetables is McDonnell Nursery (http://www NULL.mcdonnellnursery NULL.com/) in Orinda.  They have a great selection of organic veggies, regular veg and acres of landscape plants.  They can easily handle any yard project you may have.  Like Evergreen, McDonnell Nursery has a plethora of tips and ideas on their website.  For water efficient color in your garden, they suggest: marigold, lupine, cosmos, verbena, sage and hibiscus.  They have a great link on caring for your trees during the drought (http://www NULL.mcdonnellnursery NULL.com/html/trees1 NULL.html).

For more water wise gardening tips, check out the Water Smart Center on the EBMUD website (https://www NULL.ebmud NULL.com/environment/conservation-and-recycling/watersmart-center).