Cool Trees Shade a Hilltop Home

WHEN CAROLYN AND JOHN NABER UPROOTED THEMSELVES from their Pasadena home of 20 years and settled in a new place above the Arroyo Seco, they took on a new backyard covered with brush. With help from her trusty gardeners, Carolyn quickly set out to transform the hilly half-acre into livable space.

“If I have a choice of plants and trees, I’m going to side with the drought-tolerant varieties that can make it on their own with much less maintenance.”– PWP customer Carolyn Naber, shown above with husband John.

The team tore out quick-growing bamboo and non-native shrubs that threatened to take over the property. In their place, Carolyn carefully chose native plants that would thrive with less water and maintenance, help stabilize the hillside and provide a fire buffer around the 1949 home. Carolyn went for a cool, green look with plenty of flowering, low-growing ground covers.

“If I have a choice of plants and trees, I’m going to side with the drought-tolerant varieties that can make it on their own with much less maintenance,” she said. “Some plants just don’t fit. I didn’t want an English garden that required a lot of fussiness.”

Already a model for water conservation, the Nabers’ yard soon became a living testimonial for PWP’s Cool Trees Program. After reading about PWP’s shade tree rebates in Pasadena In Focus, Carolyn took advantage and planted flowering western redbuds for splashes of color and towering ginkgos to shade the south and west sides of their home.

Launched last year, the Cool Trees Program offers PWP’s residential customers a $30 rebate per tree for planting any one of 37 varieties. Home gardeners who buy their new trees from a Pasadena retailer receive a $40 rebate per tree. Each customer can receive rebates for up to five trees. The program covers a great selection of small, medium and large species, including fruit trees and ornamentals.

Planting these deciduous trees around your home can cut air conditioning and cooling costs by as much as 20%, blocking the sun’s heat during the summer while letting in warm rays during the winter. Trees also provide privacy, prevent soil erosion and beautify any space. Carolyn Naber has become a big fan of the program and plans to apply for another rebate this year. “I told my gardener and arborist about it so they can tell all of their other clients,” she said.

For more information on PWP’s Cool Trees Program, including a guidebook, a catalog of eligible trees and an online application, visit www.PWPweb.com and click on Your Home, then click on Programs and Rebates or call the PWP AnswerLine at 744-6970.

Water-saving Garden Blossoms on a Vacant Lot

A SCRAGGLY VACANT LOT at the corner of Arlington Drive and Pasadena Avenue will soon show Pasadena residents just how beautiful a water-efficient garden can be. PWP has received a $5,000 grant from Metropolitan Water District to help transform the 2 1/2 acre plot into a colorful Mediterranean garden.

The lot has been vacant for more than 20 years because Caltrans planned to use it as a construction staging area for the proposed 710 Freeway extension. By popular demand from residents and neighborhood groups, and with city council approval, city staff have secured a lease for the land from Caltrans. Cal Poly Pomona students were chosen to design the new garden as part of their final-semester project and their ideas will be incorporated into the final plan under the direction of a professional landscape architect.

The garden will showcase a variety of drought-tolerant native and Mediterranean plants that are perfectly suited to our semi-arid climate. Ranging from trees to flowering shrubs to groundcover, these varieties are able to thrive on just a sip of water. The site will be a perfect place for residents, landscape architects, commercial developers and schools to pick up ideas for garden planning and plant selection. After it has been completed, the garden will be maintained by Public Works Department staff with help from neighborhood groups.

Stop by and see the transformation!

Go Native and Save Water

IF SPRING WEATHER HAS YOU ITCHING TO PLANT, you’ll dig PWP’s free California Friendly Landscape workshops.

Master the basics of landscape design June 5 and 9; learn all about native plants June 10 and 14; hear the ins and outs of sprinkler systems on Aug. 7 and 11; become an expert on watering and fertilizing Sept. 11 and 15. Saturday classes are from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Eaton Canyon Nature Center, 1750 N. Altadena Dr. and Wednesday classes are at La Casita del Arroyo, 177 S. Arroyo Blvd.

The list fills up quickly so reserve your spot now for any or all of the classes by calling PWP’s AnswerLine at 744-6970 or visit www.PWPweb.com and click on Your Water for an online application.

Be Water Wise

WHENEVER YOU’RE OUT IN YOUR YARD OR GARDEN, remember it’s important to conserve water wherever and whenever you can. These water-saving tips will help you become conscious of the amount of water you use.

 • Use mulch, such as shredded bark or gravel, to reduce areas that require regular watering.

• Install shut-off nozzles on hoses to reduce excess flow when not in use.

• Water for short intervals to ensure water is absorbed into the ground rather than forming puddles and run-offs.

• Water during early morning or early evening hours to avoid evaporation.

• Avoid watering pavements, curbs and rocky areas.

For additional tips or more information, visit www.PWPweb.com and click on Your Water or call 744-6970.