| The Seed
of an Idea Grows Into Reality...
As with so many
great ideas, serendipity played a role in this one, too. Bill Papp,
board member for WCID 132, and
Michael Murr, a local landscape
consultant, became acquainted through the Authority’s Water
Conservation Committee. As the group discussed the alarming fact
that 50-70% of a resident’s water usage takes place outside, it
sparked the two to begin exploring the concept of a local water
provider demonstrating the many ways that smart landscaping
techniques can help use water more efficiently.
Michael,
previously a Facilities and Operations Manager for Compaq Computer
Corporation’s award-winning, natural environment headquarters, is a
recognized leader in creating and sustaining landscapes that work
with indigenous environments. He is also the recipient of the Texas
Corporate Recycling Council’s Environmental Vision Award and the
Conservation Leadership Award from the Nature Conservancy of Texas.
The idea
germinated as the utility district’s board members explored the
feasibility of utilizing a portion of their water plant acreage for
a demonstration conservation garden.
“Once the
board saw a concept plan of what we proposed,” Murr explained, “they
couldn’t wait to get it in the ground. The process took longer than
expected, but it needed to be right. We also had to deal with good
old Mother Nature’s seasonal constraints along the way.
I made sure I
had the next step ready to go in order to update the board at each
meeting.” Michael admits there was extra research to get everything
exactly right; to make sure this would be an educational tool, not
just a garden. He established a partnership with
Rainbird and the
company donated the irrigation components used throughout the
garden.
The materials
had to be staged on site in the order they would be used, so the
railroad ties were delivered first. Wood and metal edging designated
where walkways and the beds would be developed. The time-consuming
process of the actual layout had to take into consideration what
occurs naturally on the site in the way of shade patterns and
drainage.
One of the
garden’s amenities -- the arbor -- was designed both for shade and
for function, encompassing the sign and framing the garden as the
entry point of the site.
The arbor is
constructed out of red cedar and will provide shade and support for
the evergreen wisteria.
Once the
layout was complete, both a conventional irrigation system and a
conservative/bubbling system were installed. Trenches crossed the
pathways and tied into the overall design of the garden, with the
wiring centralized at the controller.
Soon after,
with the system arranged into zones, the lateral water lines were
connected to the main lines and buried.
It was then
time for a weed barrier to be installed to inhibit the unwanted
vegetation from growing through the beds and special granite walkway
medium. Compost was then added to the beds ready for the planting.
Time to bring
in the plants! When they arrived, they were placed, still in their
pots, for a final look before planting. Satisfied that the
arrangement was right, they were then put into place and watered
immediately to conform to their new environment. Decorative boulders
were added, and flagstone paths allowed access to areas off the
walkways.
Split rail
fences were also added for aesthetics and as a climbing device
adjacent to vines that will eventually attach themselves to the
fences. Now, as it was throughout the design of the garden, the
natural environment was kept in perspective.
Individual
signs were placed throughout the garden to identify most of the
plant material as well as its water use and sun orientation -- each
sign describing the growth pattern, size, color and usage of the
plant material.
Sago Palms
were donated by one of the board members and now flank the mulch
bins located on the grounds. Sagos, once established in this shady
situation, will become less dependant on the larger amount of water
required in full sun.
In addition
to the mulch area, there is also an area dedicated to showing
samples of three popular turf grasses used in the design and
installation of the garden --
St. Augustine,
Bermuda and
Zoysia.
A complete
new wrought iron fence has also been installed for security,
aesthetics, and insurance purposes.
Now that the
initial phase of the project is complete, the WCID 132 Board of
Directors is pleased to make the garden available to their
customers, neighboring subdivisions, the community, local schools,
educators and youth and civic groups as a place to learn about
preserving and protecting our precious water resources, and as a
place to relax and enjoy nature.
According to
Bill Papp, “This has been a truly enriching experience. We have all
learned so much about smart landscaping, and could not be more
delighted with this wonderful garden that we hope people will enjoy
for years to come.”
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Left to right, WCID 132 Board members
Michael Armstrong, Barbara Knutson, Thomas Mancini, Gary Toll,
and Bill Papp. |
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“Now that it’s finished, I am delighted
that the Board has hired my firm to take care of the garden. I
promised them that I will maintain it the way they conceived
it... the way I designed it... and most importantly, the way
they want it to look down the road. This is an
investment on behalf of -- and for -- their constituents and
this community. They are wise to keep their vision sharp and
their investment well maintained.”
Michael Murr |
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