DEL MAR — The Ocean Friendly Garden is getting the spotlight. The sustainable designs of Falling Waters Landscape Inc. will be featured among the Garden Masters at the Spring Home-Garden Show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, March 1 through March 3.The firm’s founder and lead designer, Ryan Prange, is G3-certified as an official contractor for Surfrider Foundation’s Ocean Friendly Garden Program. The nonprofit’s San Diego County Chapter has used Prange’s expertise to re-landscape several local residences with conservation, permeability and water retention in mind.
Attendees of this year’s Spring Home-Garden Show will be able to see a sample of Prange’s work and learn firsthand what it takes to create an ocean friendly landscape design.
In Southern California’s semi-arid climate, pesticides and fertilizers can build up on lawns and gardens only to be washed down streets and storm drains and into the ocean as toxic runoff during infrequent rains. By opting for plants native to Southern California’s Mediterranean climate, capturing and reusing rainwater, and incorporating permeable paving and mulch so water can soak into the ground instead of running off into the street, Ocean Friendly Gardens restore balance to the water cycle and provide natural habitat for local wildlife. The 3-year old Surfrider program is seeing success in coastal communities in and beyond San Diego where it directly addresses the need for cleaner beaches, better coastal preservation, erosion prevention and reduced water and energy use.
“The Garden Show is our chance as professionals and stewards of the environment to educate the public and showcase new ideas in the landscape. The OFG program may be relatively new, but we hope it becomes the ‘new normal’ for San Diego landscapes,” says Prange. Participants can learn more about the show and purchase tickets at springhomegardenshow.com. General price tickets at the door are $8. Tickets are $6 if bought online or at the door after 3 p.m. Children under 12 are free, and seniors attending the show March 1 can purchase tickets for $1. For more on Surfrider’s Ocean Friendly Gardens Program visit sandiego.surfrider.org/programs/ocean-friendly-gardens, or contact Susan Krzywicki at (619) 318-4590 or [email protected].
