Public invited to campus water-wise plant exchange

The City of Fresno Water-wise Plant Give and Take exchange will be hosted by the Fresno State Horticulture Nursery (3150 E. Barstow Ave.) from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 28.

The 10th annual event is free and will educate the public on water-conserving landscapes, plants and practices for businesses and homes by area experts and organizations.

The program will include a master gardener clinic; plant information booths; gardening, irrigation and controller experts; Mother’s Day kids’ crafts and student projects; garden art; workshops; and a campus nursery plant sale.

Gardeners who bring water-wise plants, cuttings, bulbs, seeds, shrubs and trees to exchange with other guests will receive a special gift from the City of Fresno.

“This is our unit’s biggest event of the year, because there will be so many free water-wise plants available at a time of year when we’re all trying to brighten up our yards and landscaping,” said Calliope Correia, Fresno State horticulture technician. “This is also a great opportunity to learn from experts about San Joaquin Valley-friendly trees and plants that use two-thirds less water than other plants yet still provide a beautiful landscape.”

More than 20 partner organizations will have information booths and promotional items, and a limited amount of free water-wise plants will also be available.

Half-hour presentations will starting at 9 a.m. will provide information on succulents, iris and other water-wise plant growing tips and the healing properties of plants.

“Many people interpret ‘drought-resistant’ as dry landscapes with dirt, rocks and cactus,” said Nora Laikam, Fresno’s water conservation supervisor, “but every year, the public is amazed at the array of colorful and beautiful options we have at the event that conserve water and can save them money.”

Parking is available on the north side of the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market (5368 N. Chestnut Ave).

For more information, a list of the clinics, demonstrations and event partners, visit http://bit.ly/FS18-plant-exchange or contact waterwise@fresno.gov or 559.621.5480.

The City of Fresno offers an online list of water-wise plants and water conservation gardening tips at http://bit.ly/Fresno-Water-Conservation.