Landscaping and rainwater harvesting workshops offered in Pasadena

Pasadena Water and Power offers two free workshops this month to help customers make the most of the rainy season.

The popular “Native Nights” landscaping workshop returns Thursday, Oct. 7, at 6:30 p.m. at Pasadena Central Library, 285 E. Walnut St. Lili Singer, an expert on native California plants and a Theodore Payne Foundation special projects coordinator, will show people with green – and brown – thumbs how to choose and care for native species that provide year-round color, fragrance, butterflies and birdsong.

October to mid-December is the optimal season for planting these species as slow, steady rains throughout winter help them take root and thrive when springtime comes along. This is also a good time to start a water-smart landscape project; funds for PWP’s new turf replacement rebate program may not last until spring.

On Sunday, Oct. 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., PWP is co-sponsoring the Rainwater Catchment Systems Association’s free workshop “Introduction to Rainwater Harvesting” at the Santa Monica Airport, 3223 Donald Douglas Loop S. The workshop and fair will demonstrate how a wide variety of catchment systems work. Even though Pasadena gets relatively little precipitation, the right system can be very effective at capturing enough free water for irrigation to make it a worthwhile project for residential or commercial use.

Due to more frequent rains in autumn and winter, Pasadena’s Water Shortage Ordinance requires water customers to cut back their lawn and garden watering schedules to one day a week (Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday) from Nov. 1 through March 31. Regardless of the time of year, landscape irrigation is prohibited between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and whenever it is raining.

PWP customers can reserve seats for workshops, learn more about water conservation resources and report water waste at www.cityofpasadena.net/savewater. For more information call (626) 744-6970.