STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Finally! The Wood River Valley is buried under a white blanket of snow.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t plan your summer landscape.
A three-part Resilient Landscapes for Resilient Communities Series will start Thursday, Jan. 18.
The series will explore landscape design, xeriscaping principles and how to use nativars in creating beautiful water-wise outdoor settings and home gardens.
The series was organized over the past couple of years by the cities of Hailey, Ketchum, Sun Valley and Bellevue, along with the Sawtooth Botanical Garden and Wood River Land Trust. Sessions qualify for the Hailey Water Smarty rebate program.
The lineup:
- Thursday, Jan. 18: Xeriscape designer Sharon Browder will show attendees how to design an attractive landscape that embraces xeriscape ideas for all types of plants and garden styles. She’ll take attendees through a step-by-step planning and design process for small or large, new or old landscapes. 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Hailey City Hall. FREE.
- Thursday, Jan. 25: Several landscapers will be on hand to help people fine tune conceptual landscape designs. Those participating are Rob King and Staci Page of Clemens Associates, Dean Hernandez of Gardenspace Design, Mark Spencer of Native Landscapes and Sharon Browder, a xeriscape designer. 6:30 to 8 p.m., Hailey City Hall. FREE.
- Thursday, Feb. 15: Nativars—The New Native Plants. This day-long workshop for landscape professionals and gardeners will focus on newly available native plants called nativars. It will also explore the use of appropriate maintenance techniques. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sawtooth Botanical Garden.
The workshop will feature University of Idaho scientist Steve Love, Steven Paulsen of Native roots, LLC, and others.
Cost for the workshop is $35 for SBG members and $40 for non-members. Register by calling the Sawtooth Botanical Garden at 208-726-9358.
For more information about the series, email info@woodriverlandtrust.org.