June 2024 Ranchers' RoundUp

A Rose by Any Other Name - by

Kathrine Blomquist

Here comes summer! I know many of us are wondering if it will be as hot as last year (fingers crossed it’s not). In preparation for come-what-may, here are a few tips to help you save water this summer:

*Check outdoor faucets, pipes, and hoses for leaks

*If you have a pool, invest in a cover to prevent water loss through evaporation

*Speaking of evaporation, water your plants in the early morning to minimize evaporation. Using sprinklers or emitters that deliver big drops of water close to the ground also helps because smaller drops can evaporate before hitting the ground

*Use 2 to 4 inches of organic mulch around plants to reduce evaporation

Did someone say mulch? A sincere thank you to SRP for mulch for the Memorial Rose Garden! Bags of mulch were picked up by amazing volunteers (I am a tad biased since I live with them) and distributed by DR landscape staff.

Interesting fact: The mulch consists of trimmings from overgrown trees that come in contact with, or are near, SRP’s power lines. What a great example of closed-loop recycling, where materials are turned into a new product without losing their properties during the recycling process, right in our own neighborhood! Thank you SRP for the commitment to the environment and for helping Dobson Ranch. Also, thanks are in order to all the Memorial Rose Garden volunteers for their dedication to this special space.