Wake County Volunteers Create Water-Wise Garden

A team of master gardeners transformed a piece of Lake Crabtree Park Wednesday from a flat patch of grass to a garden filled with a variety of colors and textures.

Jean Tracy, a volunteer with theWake County Cooperative Extension Service, hopes the water-wise garden will inspire others to re-think their grassy landscapes.

"This is educational. This shows people they can get these plants locally," Tracy says. "They are readily available. Many are drought tolerant."

There is very little need for fertilizer and there is no need for pesticides. Horticultural expert Carl Matyac says the project is going to be much easier on the environment.

"These are tough plants. Everything in this garden, once they are established, are going to require minimal, if any, supplemental irrigation," Matyac says.

With new topsoil, landscaping stones and a truck load of plants, the Lake Crabtree Park project will cost about $500 per 1,000 square feet.

"This is going to be here for awhile. It's something I can bring my grandchildren out and show to them," Tracy says.

The water-wise garden is just past the entrance to Lake Crabtree Park near RDU International in Morrisville.

More information about the garden and special workshops are available through the Wake County Cooperative Extension Service. For information, call(919)250-1100.