From
Volusia County Water Resources and Utilities
September/October 2003
Arbor Ridge
A Landscape Friendly Community
Tucked into an area between Howland Boulevard. and I-4 sits Arbor Ridge subdivision. Landscaping to the entrance was completed in the fall of 2002 and now is a beautiful reflection of how lovely drought tolerant, native plant landscaping can be. As part of the landscaping plan, 60 percent native and 40 percent non-native vegetation was to be planted. Over 600 drought-tolerant plants, shrubs and trees were planted to create the inviting entrance pictured below. Drought tolerant landscaping has been strongly encouraged over the past two – three years in an effort to reduce the amount of precious drinking water used for irrigation of landscapes. A home in Glen Abbey was showcased in March 2002 for its attractive use of native drought-tolerant plants. “A Step-by-Step How to Design A Water-Wise Landscape” brochure, published by the Volusian Water Alliance, is available through the Alliance, the University of Florida Extension Service or Volusia County Utilities.
Rain Gardens - Good for People Good for Nature
Rain Gardens are also called Bio Retention Areas. They are wet gardens created from a manmade or natural depression in your yard. They redirect rainwater from a downspout or a roof. The diverted water is allowed to settle and slowly percolate into the soil instead of running off the property and heading directly to the stormwater system, collecting pollutants on the way and heading toward waterways in your community. Creating a rain garden requires nothing more high tech than a spade, a plan and plants that can tolerate wet and dry conditions. Florida has a great wealth of native plants that can tolerate these conditions. Native plants are adapted to climate and soil conditions of a given area and usually have fewer pest problems. They attract birds, butterflies and small mammals creating a small wildlife area that otherwise may be driven away due to development. A rain garden planted with native plants is just the ticket to enhance your yard. The University of Florida’s Cooperative Extension Service has several documents on native plants that you might find useful. There is also an enormous amount of information you can find on web to show you how to create your rain garden and make plant selections. You also can contact the Volusia County Agricultural Department for additional information.
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Water
Wise Plant of the Month The leaves are leathery, 1-1.5 inches long, usually oval on long, trailing stems. The flowers appear in the summer and fall and are a delicate two-inch, trumpet-shaped white flower with yellow centers. Their fruit is a small inconspicuous pod. It makes an excellent ground cover where few other species can survive because it can grow on slopes of yards or dunes and on salt-filled and/or sandy soil. Its relative is the Sweet Potato and is sometimes mistaken for the Railroad Vine. It can grow to a height of six inches but can spread outwards over 50 feet. It likes full sun, requires little water and is native to Florida. |
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Lets see what you have learned from reading previous issues of the Kid’s Korner. 1. Less than ____ % of the water on earth is available for human use. 2. _______________ is water found below the earth’s surface. 3. The average person uses about __________ gallons of water every day. How much water do you use? 4. Every time you flush a standard toilet? ______ gallons. 5. Every time you flush an ultra low flush (ULF) toilet? 6. Every minute you use a standard showerhead? ______ gallons. 7. Every minute you use a high efficiency showerhead? ______
gallons. |
Answers
(1) 1% (2) Groundwater (3) 160 gallons (4) 4 - 6 gallons
(5) 1.6 gallons (6) 3 - 5 gallons (7) 1.5 - 2.5 gallons (8) C
You Might Ask
Q. When I’m working in the yard, I am tempted to take a drink from my garden hose. Is this safe?A. No. A standard vinyl garden hose has substances in it to keep the hose flexible. These chemicals, which get into the water as it goes through the hose, are not good for you. They are not good for animals or pets either, so filling drink containers for them out of a garden hose is not a good idea unless the water is allowed to run a while to flush the hose before using the water. However, one type of hose on the market is made with a “food-grade” plastic that is approved by the U. S. Food & Drug Administration and will not contaminate the water. Campers with recreational vehicles should use this type of hose when hooking up to a drinking water tap at a campsite.
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