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Once-a-week watering rules still in placeEpic Drought Continues…

April 2015 Landscaping for Wildlife / SAWS 5K is May 2

The sun was shining, the birds were singing and gardening was the theme of the day at SAWS Spring Bloom. More than 2,300 visitors made a beeline for the free annual event that featured expert landscaping tips tailored for San Antonio’s unique climate.

Couldn’t make it out to Spring Bloom? Get expert gardening advice 24/7 at GardenStyleSA.com.

Don’t let the much-needed rain and mild weather fool you. The rain has helped our lawns green up already, but we’re not out of the woods. “San Antonio has thrived despite 2015 starting as the fifth consecutive year of drought conditions,” said Karen Guz, director of Conservation. “Nothing about San Antonio’s ap-pearance, growth or economy would give a ‘drought stricken’ impression.” We’ve all been diligently following drought restrictions, working together to reduce outdoor irrigation at our homes and businesses. Residential customers have reduced their consumption by 20 percent since the drought started and 20 percent of annual water savings comes from conservation innovations by San Antonio businesses. Still, Edwards Aquifer levels remain below their historic av-erage, and Stage 2 drought restrictions remain in place. Under Stage 2, landscape watering with an irrigation system, sprinkler or soaker hose is allowed only once a week — Monday through Friday — on your designated watering day, as determined by your address. Watering on Saturdays and Sundays is prohibited by city ordinance. Watering hours for residents and businesses are 7 to 11 a.m. and 7 to 11 p.m.

Hand watering is allowed any day and any time in all drought stages. For more information on drought restric-tions, visit saws.org/drought.

A Bloomin’ Good Time

Watering day set bylast digit of street address.

SAWS CUSTOMER SERVICE or 24-HOUR EMERGENCY704-SAWS (7297)

PAST EDITIONSwww.saws.org/waternews

Landscaping for Wildlife View from a Velocipede

SAWS 5K is May 2

Save the Date: SAWS Garden Jazz Party at the San Antonio Botanical Garden is moving to October. Check back later for more details.

Spring Plant Sale May 2

San Antonio Botanical Garden

555 Funston sabot.org

Bexar County Bird Day

May 9Mitchell Lake

Audubon Center10750 Pleasanton Rd.

mitchelllake.audubon.org

America’s Armed Forces River

Parade May 16

The River Walk thesanantonioriverwalk.com

Festival of Flowers May 23

San Antonio Shrine Auditorium

901 N. Loop 1604 West safestivalofflowers.com

The Allure of Antique Roses

May 23-24Villa Finale:

Museum & Gardens 401 King William

villafinale.org

Green Spaces Alliance pres-ents an urban bike ride or walking tour of eight commu-nity gardens during the fourth annual SicloVerde, Saturday, May 9 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tour options include a 17-mile ride, 13-mile ride and a 5K walk or ride. The tour starts at Eastside Sprouts Community Garden, 1023 N. Pine. Participants will travel in small groups with experienced guides, visiting with gardeners at San Antonio’s community gardens before completing the loop and participating in clos-ing festivities. Cost is $25 per adult, $15 ages 12-17. Children under 12 and riding tandem with parents are free. Proceeds benefit com-munity gardens in the San Antonio area. For more information, visit greensatx.org/sicloverde.

For city dwellers and subur-banites, native vegetation and wildlife habitat are at a pre-mium. But it’s simple to plan your own small-scale nature preserve.

You could start by limiting your lawn. Lawns provide little food or coverage for animals. Consider removing small portions of turf and replacing it with wildflower seeds or groundcover.

Offer vertical layering by planting plants and shrubs at different levels. Sparrows and thrashers spend their lives foraging close to the ground, vireos and cardinals hang out 3 to 10 feet off the ground in shrubs, and bluebirds and chickadees love high branches.

Cavities of both living and dead trees create denning and nesting opportunities

for squirrels and birds. Piles of brush create great cover, and welcome wind breaks in the winter.

Providing a water source of any kind is essential. You don’t have to purchase a new bird bath. Instead, repurpose a con-tainer you’d otherwise recycle. Just avoid placing bird baths underneath a bird feeder as the water will get dirty with food and droppings.

Our bug friends need water, too. Insects take up water with their stylet. Create a puddling station for them by layering sand, compost and pebbles in a shallow saucer and filling it with water.

Registration is underway for this year’s SAWS 5K Run/Walk to benefit Project Agua. The race is set for Saturday, May 2, and begins and ends at the SAWS Customer Center, 2800 U.S. Hwy 281 North.

Registration fee is $25.

Project Agua assists qualified families in need with water utility payments. For detailed event information and to register, visit www.saws.org/5k.