Living in the desert can sometimes mean overusing water for landscaping and lawns, especially for those who are unfamiliar with local vegetation and native species.

Sofia Lomeli, an Arizona State University landscape architecture student, showed Phoenix city officials and residents how to incorporate native plants in landscaping to reduce water usage, during the Project Cities Phoenix Residential Xeriscape Design Student Showcase on April 21 at the Nina Mason Pulliam Rio Salado Audubon Center. 

The event was co-hosted by ASU’s Project Cities, a program connecting ASU research with the local community. It showcased Lomeli’s residential xeriscape designs, which she created in collaboration with the city of Phoenix Water Services Department and as a part of her honors independent study course. 

Lomeli’s project includes three possible designs based on the average size of a small, medium or large plot in Phoenix. Her plans incorporate a guide for how residents can transition to native and drought-tolerant landscaping. The city will distribute her plans to Phoenix residents free of charge. 

“I designed a project to offer alternatives to grass for local residents of Phoenix, kind of as a way to educate them about a better alternative that saves water and a bit of money,” she said.