Learn To Be Water-Wise at Thornton’s Demonstration Gardens
Gardening season is officially here! At 5,300 feet above sea level, Thornton’s high desert environment poses unique challenges to gardeners; many plants can survive and thrive in our beautiful city with only small amounts of supplemental water.
If you are new to gardening, looking to refresh your landscape, or hoping to try something new, Thornton Water is here to help! Join us for an Open House at the Water-Wise Demonstration Garden at the Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center on Saturday, June 15 from 9 to 11 a.m. This will be a wonderful way to see potential plants and grasses for your home and learn best practices for maintaining water-wise landscapes.
What is the Annual Water-Wise Open House?
The FREE Annual Water-Wise Garden Open House welcomes all Thornton residents and surrounding Colorado visitors to see established water-wise plants in walk-through gardens designed to educate and inspire water-wise landscaping. Adams County Master Gardeners and Thornton Water Resources staff will be available to:
- Speak with you about your garden and landscape.
- Provide insight on your upcoming projects.
- Discuss gardening best practices.
- Answer any additional questions on water-wise plants and garden maintenance.
- Share information about landscape rebates available through Thornton Water.
Attendees are welcome to bring photos of their gardens or landscapes for the Master Gardeners and visiting professionals to provide specific recommendations and ideas based on location. Be sure to bring sunscreen, hats, gardening ideas and green thumbs!
Additional Event Information
Light refreshments and snacks will be provided for event attendees. You do not need to check in upon arrival or reserve a ticket to visit the Water-Wise Open House. RSVP is appreciated, but not required to attend. This event is free and accessible to anyone.
The gardens are at the Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center at 11151 Colorado Blvd., Thornton. Click this link to view the location on Google Maps.
Get Inspired and Get Rebates!
There is no better way to plan your garden or landscape than to see it yourself. At Thornton’s demonstration gardens, you can look at the sizes, colors and details of each shrub, flower, plant and tree to help you decide which water-wise plants you would like to have as your own. Demonstration gardens plant the seed for great ideas – each species on display will have a plant I.D. and handouts so you can easily build your nursery shopping list.
To make your landscape project even easier, Thornton offers several landscape rebate programs to help transform your yard into something water-wise and beautiful! Rebates and programs available to Thornton Water customers include:
- Water-wise landscape rebates with $1-2 per square foot available!
- WaterSense Residential Irrigation Controller Rebate of up to $200.
- Rain Sensor Rebate of up to $25.
- Toilet Replacement Rebate of up to $75.
- Garden in a Box.
- Free H2Overhaul Kits.
- Free Sprinkler Consultations
About Thornton’s Water-Wise Demonstration Gardens
Thornton has two active demonstration gardens open to the public year-round: the Fire Station 5 Garden and the Water-Wise Demonstration Garden at the Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center.
The Fire Station 5 Garden was installed between 2011 and 2012 by Thornton landscape architects to display the beauty of perennials. In a true water-wise fashion, a soil moisture sensor-based irrigation system controller was installed in 2015. This sensor measures the moisture in the soil to limit excess or unnecessary watering.
This garden is proudly designated as a Plant Select ® Demonstration Garden. Plant Select is a nonprofit collaboration between Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens and professional horticulturists. The goal of this renowned organization is to create smart plant choices for a new American landscape inspired by the Rocky Mountain Region.
Visitors to the Fire Station 5 Garden can view a diverse landscape with perennials and ornamental grasses and learn about plant species suited to Thornton’s climate. This garden allows individuals to see how these plants look across the spring, summer and fall months and use resources like Plant Select’s plant database to find their favorite plants in local nurseries.
The Water-Wise Demonstration Garden at the Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center, built in 1997, allows Thornton residents to observe plants that thrive in a low-water environment. This garden includes trees, shrubs and other species commonly seen in residential or neighborhood settings. Attendees can get the true “backyard feel” with this demonstration garden. They can even see the differences between alternative turf options including a Tall Fescue Blend, Canada Blue Fescue Blend and Nature’s Prairie Turf Blend. Click here to learn more about the Demonstration Garden.
“Zeh-ri-skayp” – Beyond Cacti and Rocks
In Thornton’s high-elevation climate, lush, colorful landscapes with water-wise plants, trees and shrubs are still possible and highly encouraged. Denver Water coined “Xeriscape,” pronounced zeh-ri-skayp, in 1981 to make the concept of drought-tolerant landscaping easily recognizable. At its core, the word means “dry landscape.” Despite the name, there are infinite colorful and lush plant combinations available that can brighten your home while conserving our greatest natural resource. Need ideas but can’t make it to a demonstration garden? Check out Waterwiseyards.org for photos and ideas!
Have questions about your water bill or how to be more water-wise? Call us at 720-977-6600 or email us at water@thorntonwater.com.
