Our Xeriscape Garden

xeriscape garden, Lamplighter Inn of Santa Fe, NM

Xeriscaping is landscaping with drought-tolerant plants that can survive with less care than imports from milder climates. Stresses on plants include drying winds, intense sunlight rich in UV, and occasional freezes below zero F. Yucca and cactus are common in xeriscapes closer to sea level but Santa Fe's almost alpine elevation of 7000 ft permits greater variety. Careful selection of varieties planted, the use of organic mulches, and landscaping with native boulders as a kind of massive mulch are all strategies that make possible an attractive, varied garden while conserving water.