SAN GABRIEL VALLEY — Upper Water Fall Workshops will give San Gabriel Valley residents free opportunities to create water-wise and climate-resilient landscapes. The six-class series runs from September through December with virtual and in-person options.
The Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District, known as Upper Water, will cover native plants, irrigation, garden design, fire resilience and rainwater capture. Upper Water partners with UC Master Gardeners and Green Media Creations to provide its free public conservation workshops.
The series begins Thursday, Sept. 17, with a virtual class on native plants from the San Gabriel Valley and San Gabriel Mountains. The UC Master Gardeners workshop runs from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Participants will learn about native plant benefits, plant selection and resources for creating water-wise gardens.
Upper Water Fall Workshops Focus On Conservation
Residents can attend a Mandarin-language garden design seminar Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Arcadia Public Library. The class will cover rainwater harvesting, hydrozoning, plant selection and sustainable landscape design.
An irrigation workshop follows Thursday, Oct. 1, from 6 to 7 p.m. The virtual class will address irrigation efficiency, controller programming, drip irrigation and common system problems.
Those topics can help residents make landscaping decisions that reduce water waste while supporting healthy plants. Upper Water also offers other conservation programs and resources for residents across its service area.
Residents can review workshop details and registration information through Upper Water’s Water Smart Workshops page.
Fire-Resilient Gardening Classes Offered
Upper Water will dedicate two fall classes to fire-resilient gardening. The first will take place in person Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Upper Water’s office, 248 E. Foothill Blvd. in Monrovia.
A virtual version will follow Thursday, Nov. 5, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Both classes are presented with UC Master Gardeners. They will cover plant selection, maintenance practices and landscape design principles that can reduce fire risk.
The series concludes Thursday, Dec. 3, with “Rain to Roots: Water for Your Garden.” The virtual workshop runs from 6 to 7 p.m. Participants will learn about rain gardens, swales, storage systems and ways to manage runoff.
All six Upper Water Fall Workshops are free. The program gives residents practical ways to rethink outdoor water use while creating landscapes suited to local conditions.
Upper Water serves 18 cities and portions of unincorporated Los Angeles County, including communities throughout the Mid Valley News coverage area. Residents with questions may contact Water Resources Analyst Katherine Vazquez at [email protected] or (626) 443-2297.
