Water-use reduction was the most important concept in the landscape plant selection, but the team considered many other criteria. These included noise reduction, energy conservation and wildlife habitat.

Ways to reduce energy needs include planting trees strategically to reduce the energy load within house. Plant deciduous trees to shade south- and west-facing windows, walls and outdoor living areas.

This helps reduce summer air-conditioning needs by directly and indirectly shading the exterior and windows of the home. In the winter, these trees lose their leaves and allow 70 percent of the sun's heat to enter the windows and provide interior warmth.

Spranger's Utah House landscape design has trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and even two areas of Kentucky bluegrass. She selected plants that perform well in our soil, require minimal supplemental irrigation, cope with temperature fluctuations and resist disease and pests.

The plant palette is an important part of a good water-wise design. Spranger's favorite trees include pinyon pine, netleaf hackberry, golden rain tree and mountain mahogany. Some of her favorite shrubs are rubber rabbitbrush, Grow Low sumac and caryopteris.

The perennial plant list includes penstemons, agastaches, evening primrose, Russian sage, tricolor sage and elephant ear sage. Good ground covers that use less water are creeping mahonia, woolly thyme and hardy pink ice plant.

These are not waterless, just less water, according to Spranger. "This great-looking landscape saves quite a bit of water. You can still have a Kentucky bluegrass lawn in your landscape and save water."

The landscape is Spranger's creation, but she credits the other staff members at the Utah Botanical Center and Master Gardeners for putting in countless hours in the design and the planting. She knows that at first, there will be many maintenance issues, but as the plants fill in, weeds and other problems will diminish.

"Utah needs more demonstration sites," summarizes Spranger. "The more people can see, the more they can change. We are in a rut because we do not have good examples."

The Utah House landscape is an excellent stop to get water-wise ideas for your landscape or if you just enjoy looking at plants. Put it on your list of favorite gardens to visit this summer and fall.

This water-wise landscape reflects the natural landscape of Utah while appearing as lovely and colorful as any traditional landscape. Save water, save energy and save time by incorporating ideas from this landscape.

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Larry Sagers is the Regional Horticulturist, Utah State University Extension, at Thanksgiving Point.