FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Meghan Maloney, 968-2658                          Date: June 22, 2004
                 Public Works Department
 

WATER-WISE GARDENING CD-ROM IS HERE!

Napa Valley residents and businesses have a new tool available to help beautify their properties while reducing outdoor water use.  Developed by GardenSoft, the CD-ROM Water-Wise Gardening in the Napa Valley is now on sale throughout the County for just $5.  This user-friendly software installs on PCs with Windows and includes more than 1,000 plants species.  In the Garden Gallery, browse categories such as Front Yards, Back Yards, and Parking Strips.  Landscape photographs expand to reveal plant hotlinks.  Click a hotlink to bring up an individual plant window with additional pictures and detailed information.  Using the My List function, keeping track of your favorite plant ideas is easy.  There are three printed report options to help guide a plant shopping expedition at your local nursery.

Specialized lists are provided, such as California Native Plants, Deer Resistant Plants, and Shade Plants.  The Plant Search function asks a series of questions on plant type, height range, sun tolerance, and color, and generates a list of plants matching your desired characteristics.  Of course you can also simply look up plants by botanical or common name.  Tying the CD themes together is a comprehensive Gardening Guide with chapters on design, irrigation, and maintenance.  One concept emphasized is “hydrozoning,” which is grouping plants together according to their water needs.  While most of the plants on the CD are low-water-use or drought-tolerant, it is not just plant selection that saves water, but efficient layout for efficient irrigation.

The CD may be particularly useful to owners of newly built properties, but is applicable to anyone wishing to change their landscape and rein in their water budget.  St. Helena residents can purchase the CD at City Hall, Whiting Nursery and soon other nurseries. CDs are also available throughout the County at local nurseries, Napa County RCD, and UC Master Gardener’s offices.

Demonstration of the software will be included in this Saturday’s 10 a.m. seminar, “Water Conservation, What You Can Do,” at the Carolyn Parr Nature Center, 3107 Browns Valley Road.  CDs will be available for purchase.  Call the Nature Center at 255-6465 to register.  The City of St. Helena is pleased to offer this innovative product and is thankful for the tremendous cooperation from local nurseries, public agencies, and non-profits in making it so broadly available throughout the region.  Please call Meghan Maloney at 968-2658 with any questions or comments on the CD-ROM project.

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Jonathon Goldman, P.E.
Acting Public Works Director