Xeriscape Group Honors Smaus for Water Conservation Efforts

The California Xeriscape Foundation has given Times Garden Editor Robert Smaus an “Award of Recognition in the area of Public Education” for his “exemplary effort in promotion and implementation of the xeriscape principles of water conservation in the urban landscape.”

The Times’ Real Estate section published a multipart series by Smaus called “New Ways With Water” that began on Aug. 19, 1990. On April 12 of this year, working with staff artist Patricia Mitchell, Smaus put together a series of water-saving ideas in an article called “Newscape.” The Times has also shown many water-saving landscapes in the Los Angeles Times Magazine and a special article in the March 22 issue called “The Lawn Goodbye” looked at drought-resistant designs and plants.

The California Xeriscape Foundation promotes research and education on water-saving landscape design. For more information, contact them at 16176 Mesa Robles Drive, Hacienda Heights, CA, 91745, or call (818) 961-5976.