Water is such a precious resource. But when it comes to conserving it, how do we know where to start? Author Noelle Johnson offers a wealth of strategies and solutions that are applicable no matter where you live and the type of gardening you engage in. Water-Smart Gardens is a must-read for all gardeners and homeowners!

"As a Pacific Northwest gardener, I am familiar with Noelle’s work in the temperate areas of Arizona, so I was curious about what she can offer a PNW gardener. This book is a great resource for understanding the culture of drought, conservation, capture, and water use in the garden. It is timely and essential to look at all options for your garden. Noelle touches on all methods of efficiently getting water to the garden with easy-to-understand drawings, photos and explanations to help you choose and create a beautiful water-wise garden."

We all want the peaceful beauty of flowers and foliage plants; respite from summer’s heat under the canopy of mature shade trees; the joy of growing fresh vegetables, herbs, and fruits in our food gardens; and even the tickle of turf grass on our bare feet. At the same time, for the sake of future generations, we must be cognizant of the amount of water we’re using. The Water Smart Garden is a book you will refer to again and again to balance what you want out of your yard while still being a responsible steward of this planet.

Having spent part of my childhood in Southern Nevada, and returning many times, I’ve seen firsthand the shocking water level drop on Lake Mead over the decades. Being a military/civil service family my entire life, and living and travelling over a good bit of the country and the world, I’ve seen what a precious commodity water is and how different communities deal with it.

After six decades of moving every few years, we’ve finally found our permanent home. I’ve taught small-space veggie and herb gardening in the US, Germany, and Kenya, but have not had much experience working with ornamental perennials and trees until now.

Of course, I turned to chapters 10 and 11 first to make sure the information on food gardening was clear and accurate, and found it was even more comprehensive than I had expected. To help me on my new journey, I wanted a book from a trusted source to provide well-researched information to guide me as I change things on this property—like removing parts of our lawn and implementing smart water strategies. That book is Noelle Johnson’s The Water Smart Garden.

The Water Smart Garden is an excellent resource for both those gardening in dry climates and those who are trying to conserve their water use in general to grow a more sustainable landscape. I was especially pleased to see author Noelle Johnson address lawn replacement and the use of drought-tolerant groundcover plants. Johnson's writing is clear and accessible with many practical tips and lots of ideas that can be easily implemented.

"My favorite part of the book, however, is the projects. Unlike most books that just spend a couple of pages, each project has its own devoted chapter, making sure you have everything you need to properly grow and conserve water. Overall, I consider The Water-Smart Garden a must for any gardener, no matter their grow zone!"

"The photos in this book are outstanding. While lovely enough to be a coffee table book, it is a clear how-to book that tells you how to “Grow a beautiful, resilient, and productive garden with minimal water”

"The Water-Smart Garden illustrates how to have a beautiful, productive garden while conserving water. This is a timely, motivational guide to stewardship of what is probably the most crucial element of life on this planet – fresh water. The book is richly illustrated; inspirational; resource-filled; and practical with down-to-earth projects."