FAIR OAKS RANCH
FAIR
OAK S
GAZE TTE Newsletter for the Residents of Fair Oaks Ranch
May 2012
GET IN THE ZONE By Erin Conant We attempt to save water in many ways, such as collecting rain water or installing waterefficient fixtures in our homes. But putting extra thought into your landscape’s design can save water, too. Hydrozoning is a technique that groups plants according to the amount of water they require. It generally includes three zones: PRINCIPLE
This area likely contains turf grass and gets the most use as the home’s main outdoor activity area. Plants in this hydrozone typically require more water than any other plants on the property. SECONDARY
This zone receives less human contact and often contains beds used exclusively for visual appeal. These plants use moderate to small amounts of water. MINIMAL Involving the rarely accessed reaches of a property, this zone includes plants that have a knack for surviving without much care and should receive little or no supplemental watering.
While this all might seem a bit complicated, the idea of organizing the landscape by water needs is not only water-wise, but it also reduces your never-ending maintenance load!
Volume 2, Issue 5
The Parkway Samaritan Submitted by Sharon Perica Fair Oaks Parkway is always so clean! “Big deal,” some of you say? “Of course, that’s the kind of people we are,” others respond. But some of you know the REAL reason. Fair Oaks Ranch is blessed with our own Good Samaritan. Yes, you early commuters have seen him. You see him 5 days a week, don’t you? I know I do. There he is—all dressed for his morning walk--every single day. So what you are saying. Well, just so happens that he always takes along several plastic bags and if you are a little later one morning you’ll find him carrying stuffed bags. Picture bags about ready to pop. And yes, he works both sides of the parkway and the median. He is a perfect example of what each of us should do as we move through this pristine city. We have a choice every day to make things better just because we live here. It is a bit harder when we drive by a “mess” but when we are biking, hiking, or taking our dogs for a walk, each of us CAN stop and follow his example. We can pick up that stray bit of garbage that blew away on trash pick up day. We can scoop the poop. What else can we do? I’d hope that we could take the time to roll down our windows and tell him thank you. That is the least we can do for the man who singlehandedly keeps our parkway, at least his part of it, spotless. I’m not sure how many years he’s been committed to this clean up project, but his commitment is 100%. Let’s try to match that and see how nice our city can be.
Erin Conant is conservation consultant for San Antonio Water System. Copyright © 2012 Peel, Inc.
Fair Oaks Gazette - May 2012
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