High and Dry Garden in Norwood

 

High and Dry gardens are one type of Water Wise Gardening called “Precipitation Only” Gardening. These are gardens that subsist on natural precipitation alone.

CSU Extension High and Dry Gardens were conceived and planted in response to recurrent drought in Colorado and predicted climate change as well as to municipal watering restrictions and Colorado Water Law that states that many private wells drilled on or after May 8, 1972 on properties less than 35 acres are permitted for exempt household use only. This means that outdoor watering of landscapes and livestock is not permitted with these wells. We also have many wells in San Miguel County that don't produce enough water to water outside landscaping.

There are currently five High and Dry gardens in Colorado, one in Gilpin County and one in El Paso county, both planted in the summer of 2004, and one in Custer County and one in Boulder County, both planted in the summer of 2005. The garden at the CSU Extension office in Norwood was planted the summer of 2006 and is the first replication of the study on the western slope. In 2008 and 2009 we planted another garden in Telluride on town property beside the San Miguel River.

We have Water-Wise Fact sheets in our office and Yvette Henson, CSU Extension Agent/Director can give you some tips on planting if you want to learn more about planning waterwise plantings or "xeric" which means "adapted to an extremely dry habitat". Stop by our office in the Lone Cone Building in Norwood.

Planting of High and Dry Garden in Telluride

 

Working at High and Dry Garden in Telluride

 

 

Two Workers at High and Dry Garden in Telluride

 

 

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