Records of Xeriscape Colorado, Inc.

Xeriscape Colorado, Inc., was a non-profit organization that promoted water-efficient landscapes and educated people on how to create the type of landscape which could reduce the amount of water, resources, and maintenance needed.

The first organization to define this type of landscaping, Xeriscape Colorado, Inc., had its origins in Denver, Colorado, in 1981 as the Xeriscape Task Force. During the 1980s, it became a partner of Denver Water and was also known for a short time, starting in 1986, as Front Range Xeriscape before its final name change in 1989 to Xeriscape Colorado, Inc. In 2000, Xeriscape Colorado, Inc. merged with another non-profit, Metro Water Conservation, Inc., to form Colorado WaterWise, which is a current leader in water conservation in Colorado. Now a program with Colorado WaterWise, it is simply known as Xeriscape Colorado.

Xeriscape Colorado, Inc., was the original idea of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado President Jim Grabow, who asked for the assistance of Denver Water to co-sponsor a new program that would focus on public education and landscape water conservation. The first project was creating a demonstration garden that would exhibit how to conserve water and still have a stunning landscape. In 1981, Nancy Leavitt of the Denver Water Board coined the term "xeriscape," combining the Greek word "xeros," meaning dry, with the word "landscape." Another staff member, Bob Fletcher, created the xeriscape logo. The Xeriscape Task Force, as it was then known, adopted the new term "xeriscape" and its seven fundamentals: planning and design, soil improvement, reducing turf, mulching, efficient irrigation, low-water use plants, and regular maintenance. On May 8, 1982, during the "Water for Americans" week and at the "X-rated Garden Party," the first xeriscape demonstration garden and education program were dedicated to the citizens of Denver.

From the beginning, there has been strong media interest in the xeriscape concept. Since its inception, it has grown into a multi-state movement and soon created a need for a national organization. The National Xeriscape Council, Inc. was formed as a non-profit organization in 1986 but was discontinued in 1993.