Steve Griggs (New York, NY), Landscape Design Artist, “Creating a water conserving and fire resistant home landscape.”
Steve is a landscape designer offering tips for water conservation and fire safety. Where he lives in New York, water is fairly expensive but people still desire green grass and flowers. He suggests watering either in early morning or late evening and using drip irrigation rather than sprinklers.
He did not discuss recycling of “gray water,” which is used tap water for use on lawns and in gardens. Gray water recycling systems can save a lot of money are increasingly available.
Sharon talked about the rooftop gardens and lawns she saw in Japan. This is more of a space conservation measure than water conservation. They depend entirely on summer rainfall.
Indoors, house plants add humidity to the environment.
As far as fire safety, fire lines are recommended in high danger areas (at least two feet wide and devoid of vegetation or any combustible material. Certain plants are more combustible than others. Conifers tend to burn more easily than broadleaf trees, pines and junipers burn more easily than spruces and green grass burns more easily than dry grass. Lava rock as a lawn surface does not burn but it also contains no water.
The Sharon Kleyne Hour 