SustainaBlue Landscapes eNewsletter
Edition 13
September/October 2018


  ◦ Tips of the Month  ◦
Fall is the best season for planting, especially for California native plants. With summer heatwaves behind us and shorter days ahead, start planting in mid-October for successful spring blooms.

For more info on the CA poppy, pacific coast iris,  island bush poppy, and foothill penstemon visit www.OCplants.org.
Fall is also a great time to fall back on outdoor watering. Plants don't need as much water this time of year.

Maximize your outdoor water savings by reducing the amount of watering days and station runtimes on your sprinkler controller.

Use our watering calculator to create a new watering schedule for the season. For more info visit  www.smwd.com/watering .
Considering updating your yard to a beautiful and sustainable drought
tolerant landscape? Participate in our Turf Removal rebate program. 
CLICK HERE for more details. 
◦ Professional Spotlight ◦
Meet your Water Use Efficiency team at SMWD!
Amelia Herndon-Steen

Amelia is the newest addition to the team!
She graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a MS in Regenerative Studies. She is also a Landscape Architect passionate about creating environments that help people to enjoy the outdoors. Her specialty is
water-wise plants.

Most weekends you will find Amelia hiking, gardening, and spending time with family.
Karla Guardado

Karla has worked at SMWD for 4 years. It's likely you've seen her around at a District event or even at your residence for a home inspection. Prior to her time at the District, Karla graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in Social Ecology and worked in water use efficiency at a water utility in San Diego. She  is passionate about the environment and helping the District's customers.

Karla is an avid moviegoer; she's looking forward to seeing The Girl in the Spider's Web and Creed II coming out next month. In her spare time, Karla also enjoys reading as much as possible. Her current reads include The Little Stranger and Crazy Rich Asians.

Do you have a leak?
How To Identify a Leak - 3 Easy Steps
Karla walks you through 3 easy steps to
identify leaks inside and outside your home.
◦ WaterSmart Innovations 2018 ◦
The annual WaterSmart Innovations Conference & Exposition is the largest urban water-efficiency conference of its kind.
SMWD had the opportunity to share and present the District's SustainaBlue
Landscapes  Tour with other water-efficiency professionals from around the world. 

We look forward to seeing you next April for our 2019 Landscapes Tour!
Stay tuned for more details and check in for event updates at www.smwd.com/tour .
◦ Plant of the Month  ◦
Winter Cassia or Christmas Senna
Cassia or  Senna bicapsularis
Plant Type: shrub
Height: 8' to 12'
Width: 8' to 10'
Flower Color: yellow
Bloom Time: fall
Water: low
Exposure: full sun
Garden Uses: Enjoy the fall color! While other plants are preparing for winter, Winter Cassia or Christmas Senna is just waking up. Bright yellow flowers appear at a time of year when little else is in bloom.
CLICK HERE for more photos of  cassia bicapsularis .
◦ October In the Natural Garden ◦

CLICK HERE to read the full article

from Tree of Life Nursery.
  • This is a perfect time to give your garden a head start on the season by providing one more (hopefully the last one until May) deep soak...With normal rain amounts, the natural garden needs no supplemental watering in the winter.
  • Check your soil surface, the finished grade, and the way water moves through your garden. Remember the "3-S" rule for water...Slow it down, spread it out, soak it in. This month is the perfect time for you to create or improve the microtopography in and around your plantings.
  • Concentrate the water into the root zones, basically the areas directly beneath the plants' outermost branches. Do not direct water to where it will collect at the crown, the place where the plant stem meets the root system.
◦ Upcoming Events by Others  ◦
 


Make & Take: Pumpkin Succulent Planter 
@  Reata Park & Event Center

Saturday, October 13th
12:00pm to 6:00pm
*Cost: $40 (materials included)
Make a pumpkin succulent planter at the 1st Annual Harvesting Hope Country Music Festival!
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@smwd_sustainablue
Santa Margarita Water District
Water Use Efficiency
efficiency@smwd.com  |  949-459-6593  |   www.smwd.com
26111 Antonio Parkway
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
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