accent your yard

Photo essay by: Cody Hutchison and Beth George

Every yard needs an extra touch to make it beautiful. Even in an arid climate, under irrigation restrictions, you can make your yard pop with color and style. A visit to a local nursery, like Sparkman’s, can offer lots of inspiration.

This is the year to rethink your landscape by incorporating

more native and drought-tolerant plants. Put aside the

notion that a “water-wise” landscape is dull and colorless. Succulents, native

perennials and other wisely-chosen plants will add beauty, style, texture and exciting color to keep

your landscape vibrant throughout the growing season.

Your Yard

Planted together, succulents make a lovely container garden full of color and texture.

Succulents store water in their leaves, stems or roots. These hardy plants have adapted to survive drought-like conditions, and once established, will thrive with just a little care.

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SedumIce Plant

Xeriscape landscapes are defined as “quality landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment.” Among the principles associated with Xeriscape landscapes are Planning and Design, Appropriate Plant Selection, Practical Turf Areas, Efficient Irrigation, and Appropriate Maintenance. Talking with local nursery professionals who are familiar with the area’s growing conditions is a great way to learn about the right plants for designing a xeriscape landscape. Many local nurseries are expanding their selection of drought-tolerant plants to meet the growing demand for xeriscape landscapes.

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Ensuring plants are well-cared for at the nursery are (from left) Britanie Burk, Susan Bryan, Dusty Sparks, and owner Cindy Sparkman.



For an instant pop of color, look to beautiful containers. Arranged on a patio or placed in the yard, container gardens are easy to tend. Love those beautiful, water-hungry annuals? Plant

your favorites in a beautiful container and their irrigation needs are easy to manage.

Annuals & Perennials

(Clockwise from top left)Celosia

Spanish BroomMay Night Salvia

Gerber DaisySpiderwort

Bird of ParadiseHardy HibiscusButterfly Bush

Waterwise trees for West Texas include Desert Willow, Chinese Pistache, Vitex, Red Oak, Mesquite, Lacebark Elm, Burr Oak, and others. Reducing the amount of sod in your yard is an

excellent way to reduce your irrigation needs. Consider instead how a strategically placed boulder, rock or pebble walkway can make all the difference in the look of your yard.



With drought resistant plants you can have a desert or lush look. Mix plants with different

heights and textures to add interest, such as this pairing of Mexican feather grass with alyssum.


accent your yard

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