Criticism Springs Up on Editor’s Water Use

While in more aquatically abundant times you would find me appreciating and admiring Times Garden Editor Bob Smaus’ article “How His Garden Grows” (May 26) it is with disbelief and disappointment that I review his expose.

I too love to garden and chose my home in El Toro largely because of its small but lovely front and back yard habitat. However, due to my sense of concern and responsibility as a Southern Californian (and moreover user of planetary resources) I have been conserving water long before the recent 30% cutback was mandated in my area.

Smaus is in a position to demonstrate to others an appropriate style of gardening for these dry times. He could well encourage the replacement of water hoarding greenery with xeriscape plantings. Yet he makes reference to the drought problem as if it were of no real concern to him. I quote: “Now we have a drought and a garden that needs regular irrigation.” He admits to using 480 GALLONS a day for lawn and flowers.

How can he justify this usage of water when the whole state is in a political and agricultural uproar over lack of the same?

REAGAN HERKEIRATH

El Toro