By Jan Wrede
Guest Columnist

It has been dry, dry, dry. With only about 10 inches of rain in the last 8 months, Boerne and the entire area are once again in a very dry period.

So just how do we take care of our yards with so little rain? At the Cibolo Nature Center, we have found that a plan and patience all around are most helpful. We are accepting the fact that we live in an arid climate and we are embracing the need to be water-wise.

Even though the nature center is in the city of Boerne and only required to follow the city’s somewhat liberal watering rules, we have chosen to adhere to the Cow Creek Groundwater Conservation District’s (CCGCD) much more conservative water restrictions. We do this to be a model for everyone in the whole area where we share the same groundwater.

In 1990, the Texas Water Commission declared the Texas Hill Country to be a Critical Groundwater Area. This declaration, now known as the Hill Country Priority Groundwater Management Area (PGMA), gave notice that water availability and quality in our area will be at risk within the next 50 years.

CCGCD was created to conserve groundwater from the aquifers within Kendall County and to prevent groundwater waste. As of May 12, CCGCD officials placed Kendall County under Stage 4 or severe drought restrictions.

The CCGCD directors know that, especially during dry weather, outdoor watering “wastes” groundwater. Thus, all lawn and landscape irrigation, including by hand-held hose or hand-held bucket, is limited to between the hours of 8 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. one day per week according to the following schedule: addresses ending in 0 and 1 Monday, 2 and 3 Tuesday, 4 and 5 Wednesday, 6 and 7 Thursday, 8 and 9 Friday, with no weekend watering.

Since the Nature Center’s address number ends with zero, we must limit irrigation of our landscape to Monday evenings and Tuesday mornings. The CNC watering team is lead by Ralph Lay and he has help from volunteers, especially members of Boerne’s Native Plant Society.

They do most of our outdoor watering early Tuesday mornings when it is most convenient for everyone involved.

Wherever in the Texas Hill Country you happen to live, the first part of being water-wise in the yard is to use only grass and landscape plants that are xeric or drought tolerant. Xeric species for the Texas Hill Country are either native or well adapted to our alkaline soil and droughty climate.

Local nurseries stock these plants. Be sure to ask for them. For more information on low water use plants, you can check the list prepared by Bexar County Extension horticulturalist David Rodriguez at http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/HomeHort /F4Best/nLowWaterPlants.htm.

The second step to being water-wise in your yard is to mulch, mulch, mulch in all garden areas and around young trees and shrubs. Do it as much as possible to reduce water loss. At the nature center, we are adding mulch in our landscaping where the mulch is less than 1.5 inches thick. In this hot, dry season of a dry year, I don’t think that you can use too much mulch.

The third water-wise rule is to make sure that all outdoor watering equipment is working with no leaks. At the nature center, we have had to replace some old soaker hoses and dried out washers. Now is the time to check and stop all water leaks.

The fourth water-wise rule says, “Do not add new plants of any kind until we have significant rain!” Because summer is usually our driest season, we expect rain in the fall and this is the best time to plant trees, shrubs and perennials. Spring is usually the best time to plant grass. Wait for rain to plant!

Finally remember, a long-term solution to groundwater conservation is rainwater harvesting for use in both the home and yard. Are you ready to plan ahead and build your system? The next rainwater harvesting workshop is Saturday, July 19. Call the nature center for more information.

Next week, this column will feature John Kight’s rain harvest system for indoor and outdoor use as well as renovation of the nature center’s rainwater system and how we will use it to be water-wise in our yard.

CNC Happenings

Check out our Web site at www.cibolo.org

Nature Adventure Day Camp

Sessions 2-7: 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m

June 16-20 - Rowdy Reptiles

June 23-27 - Dynamic Dinosaurs

July 7-11 - Wacky World of Water

July 14-18 - Cibolo Native Americans

July 21-24 - Wonders of Nature

July 28-Aug. 1 - Water Water Everywhere

CNC Park - .

Members $100 and non-members $110. Discounts when registering for multiple weeks.

Cibolo Nature Center is the ideal location for summertime outdoor adventure. Children explore the out-of-doors in a safe environment.

Camp activities encourage awareness and appreciation of nature.

Campers enjoy traditional camp fun with games, crafts, skits, silly songs and special guests.