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Retired grandmother built her water-wise landscape with help from neighborhood kids
July 1, 2023 (San Diego’s East County )-- El Cajon resident Lois Scott is this year’s WaterSmart Landscape Contest winner in the Otay Water District’s service area.
After years of high-water usage, lack of rain, and rabbit-yard invaders, Scott, a retired registered nurse, converted what was once a green front lawn with rose bushes into a water-wise landscape she calls “Nana’s Garden” that uses approximately 41% less water than before. In 2020, she applied for and received a $4,161 rebate from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Landscape Transformation Program to remove 1,387 square feet of turf. Scott followed that up in 2021 by applying for the San Diego County Water Authority’s WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Program, which offers free classes on upgrading your yard. 
Scott enlisted the help of others to build Nana’s Garden. Neighborhood kids and her best friend, a succulent fanatic, helped to plant native plants. A gardener converted her irrigation system from sprinklers to drip, capping 17 of 19 sprinkler heads, leaving two for drip irrigation. A separate line and rain-barrel water helps to water many of her plants.
“I fell in love with all the different plants I was learning about in the class. “With all the colors and textures, I couldn’t just limit my garden to a few plants,” said the 64-years young grandmother. “I call my garden Nana’s Garden, full of lots of variation, just like my grandchildren. The fun part now is to sit back and enjoy the gentle breeze while watching the honeybees, butterflies, and hummingbirds have their feast in my garden,” said Scott.
“Nana’s Garden is an inspiration to all on the benefits of installing water-wise yards that conserve our water resources,” said Otay Board President Mark Robak, who represents District 5, where Nana’s Garden is located. “The District makes it a priority to provide resources for residential and commercial customers who are considering ways to make water-use efficiency a way of life.”
The District will recognize Scott at its July 5 board meeting with a certificate of recognition, a gift certificate to a local nursery of her choice, a yard sign, and other promotional items.
Learn more about the annual contest here.
Learn about turf replacement rebates and water conservation resources here.
The Otay Water District is a public agency providing water, recycled water, and sewer service to more than 226,000 customers within approximately 125 square miles of southeastern San Diego County, including the communities of eastern Chula Vista, Bonita, Jamul, Spring Valley, Rancho San Diego, unincorporated areas of El Cajon and La Mesa, and eastern Otay Mesa along the international border with Mexico. For more information on the Otay Water District, visit otaywater.gov
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