After studying horticulture in Beacon, New York, Mary Catesby Halsey has spent the last decade working with florists such as Chelsea Flowers and Gardens, Hudson River Flowers, and Ovando and Banchet Flowers. Mary Catesby Halsey has a particular interest in the field of xeriscaping.
The term xeriscaping originated in Denver, Colorado, in response to the droughts of the 1970s and '80s. Trademarked by the city's water department, it derives from the Greek word “xeros” for “dry” and “scape” for view.
Xeriscaping essentially means incorporating drought-resistant plants, which may include a focus on native species, to create beautiful landscapes that require less water than traditional gardens or lawns. In addition to reducing water usage, such an approach often results in lower maintenance requirements.
Although the idea of drought-resistant plants may bring up images of desert cactus, it actually covers a diverse range of species. Some examples include ornamental grasses such as zebra grass or maiden grass, a variety of sedums to use as ground covers, the red bird of paradise shrub, and the sunburst honey locust tree. Drought-resistant flowers range from coneflowers to moonbeam coreopsis.
