Urban Garden 10

Common name:English Lavender
Botanical name:Lavandula angustifolia

English lavender is a dependably hardy, heat tolerant, drought resistant perennial, well suited to our arid, cold climate. Aromatic, green to grey-green foliage has a rich, resin scent, and grows in tight clumps 1 to 2 feet in height and width, depending on variety. Flowers form at the ends of stiff stems, in whorls of blue to lavender to purple, again, depending on variety. Flowers may add another 6 to 12 inches of height. Use in any sunny spot, such as perennial border, herb garden, parkstrip, lining a pathway.

Common name:Red Mother-of-Thyme
Botanical name:Thymus serpyllum coccineus

Red Mother-of-thyme is a very showy thyme, with its profusion of rosy-red flowers in summer. Plants form thick mats of tiny, luscious green foliage, and though its evergreen, the foliage turns bronze in the fall. A wonderful low-water, low maintenance groundcover to use in place of low-use lawns or for between pavers. Grows about 2 to 3 inches tall and spreads about 12 to 18 inches wide.

Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.