Drought Resistant Landscape 4

Circle Play Hardscape elements step up to the challenge of a drought-tolerant garden. Groundcovers -- here, thyme -- provide a good way to catch water that might be lost on the gentle slope. Two sculptures -- a whimsical cat, and an orb -- offer drama in place of showy, water-needy plants. In any garden, but especially in drought-conscious ones, mulch is essential to conserving moisture (and it keeps down weeds). Many flowers supply showy blooms but require loads of water; in place of them, hardscape elements -- including pavers and a series of circles -- furnish visual interest. Once established, shrubs and evergreens, such as arborvitae, require very little supplemental water -- except in times of extreme drought -- and offer bountiful structure and color.