Sarah Gorton
SPECIALTY: Bat Enthusiast
ABOUT:
Sarah Gorton is a Planner with the SAWS Conservation department. She is passionate about bats and native plants, with a particular fondness for horseherb! Sarah has completed certifications through Texas Master Naturalist and Native Plant Society. When she isn’t working on her research on the use of native grasses for uptaking pollutants at UTSA, she can be found making stained glass or hanging out with her two Chihuahuas.
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Red, White and Bloom: Purely Patriotic Plants
True patriotic plants are native plants — ones that have been growing here since the beginning. And there are several that flaunt Fourth of July color. The Fourth of July may be behind us, but your landscape can still burst with blooms of red, white and blue. To show your true American (and Texan) pride, […]
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Coupon Curations: Salvias
Drought-tolerant, deer-resistant and sun-loving — salvia is a savvy replacement for water-guzzling grass. Feast your eyes on a few of our favorites. If you haven’t seen our approved WaterSaver Coupon list yet, you may want to peruse it for a bit. From asparagus fern to zizotes milkweed, there are more than 100 wonderfully water-saving plants included. This article will […]
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Create a Texas-Style Cottage Garden
Forget water-intensive privets and thirsty rose trellises. Options abound for pretty, posh plants that are as drought-tough as they are bucolic and cozy. England in the 1870s saw the rise of the cottage garden, a style of landscaping that involved dense plantings and informal design. These landscapes are irregular and unpretentious with grass replaced by […]
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Free Water Flow Sensor? Yes, Please!
Want to know exactly when your water meter is running? Apply for a water flow sensor rebate and get the Flume 2 for next to nothing! Have you ever been surprised by a large water bill? Sometimes the culprit is a leaky faucet that adds up drip by drip. Other times there’s an invisible leak […]
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New Homeowner? Here’s Your Water Conservation Checklist.
If you’re not careful, home ownership can be an unwelcome adventure of water-wasting proportions. Use these tips to test your abode’s water-using ways. New homeownership is an exciting adventure with opportunities to create the indoor and outdoor living space of your dreams. But for those of us who have never lived in an apartment or […]
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Blooms for Bats
San Antonio is home to one of the world’s largest bat colonies — a boon for natural pest control since a bat can eat its weight in insects in a single night. Encourage these bug–munching mammals by growing bat–tastic native plants. Few San Antonio residents know that we have the largest colony of bats in […]
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Buying a Home? Gauge Its Gardening Potential.
Picked out the perfect plot to plant your cottage-style dreamscape? Your new home’s soil, shade and other attributes may have different plans. Keep these garden-centric signs in mind before deciding on your dream dwelling. For some people, one of the biggest perks to buying a home is the freedom to garden, to plant whatever they […]
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Is Your Tree Over the Hill?
While the age of a tree has no bearing on the care it needs, knowing its age can satisfy many a curious mind. When the Garden Geek makes the occasional house call, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to ask him how to know the age of their trees. Of course, his customary answer is that […]
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Piercing Plants for Bloodthirsty Birds
When it comes to spooky birds, the usual suspects come to mind: ravens, owls and vultures. But there’s a bloody good reason the loggerhead shrike goes by the nickname “butcherbird.” Halloween is the ideal time to get away with killing, especially if you’re the loggerhead shrike. This unassuming little bird with a white belly, grey back […]
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Wildlife: To Feed or Not To Feed?
There are lots of critters that will take food if you put it out, including deer, squirrels, ducks and more. Before you decide to feed them, consider what it will be like to have them around long-term. One of the biggest controversies in wildlife ethics is whether or not to feed wildlife. Almost everyone loves […]
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Native Plants for Native Birds
Want to boost the bird variety in your yard? Check out our top recommendations of fowl-friendly flora. There are plenty of reasons to opt for native plants when it comes to your landscape. Among them: less watering, minimal maintenance and little-to-no use of fertilizers and pesticides. But here’s another great benefit to having an au naturel landscape: […]
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Plants for the Forgetful Gardener
It is possible to have a healthy, robust landscape that only requires minimal maintenance. And being forgetful can work to your advantage — if you pick the right plants. I was once a helicopter plant mom, but with time I’ve regressed to a negligent, forgetful gardener. I can pass my plants every day and know […]
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Your Garden Called — It Wants You To Start Composting
The simplest and cleanest way to perk up a lackluster landscape is with natural organic material. And it’s more accessible than you think. Just look to your food scraps and yard waste. Did you know that food scraps and yard waste make up about 30 percent of what we toss in the garbage? Imagine if […]
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Stranger (Tree) Things
Ball moss and mistletoe are unsettling oddities that can strike fear in the hearts of tree lovers. Are they paranormal parasites? Interdimensional intruders? Turns out those theories (and other tall tales) are completely upside down. If you’re a helicopter gardener, you may stare at your plants regularly. Sometimes I see things — like a bizarre […]
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How to Rein the Rain
There are some steps you can take to reap the most benefits from your rain barrel — and see the savings on your water bill. There’s something about rain barrels that makes people feel good about water conservation. Perhaps it’s the idea of capturing what Mother Nature provides and saving it for non-rainy days. Whatever […]
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Level Up With Vines That Shine
Not enough ground to cover? Vines are a delightful way to occupy the vertical space. Plus they have the added benefit of giving your garden an air of mystery. Whether you live in a massive home or petite cottage, sometimes there’s just not enough room to garden. What do you do when there isn’t enough […]
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Make the Most of Your $70 WaterSaver Coupon
We want to help you save water and money so we encourage you to combine your coupons whenever possible. Here’s a few ways to get the most water-saving bang for your bucks. Saving you water and money are the goals of SAWS’ WaterSaver programs including the WaterSaver Rewards program. The free points-based program is open […]
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Composting for the Rest of Us
Not everyone has the time or space for a backyard compost pile. But that doesn’t mean you can’t compost. Whether you’re an apartment dweller or just don’t want the hassle, there are still options to soothe your environmentally conscious soul. As a renter I’m hesitant to do anything that could go awry, cause damage or […]
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Zero-waste Bird Feeding
A filthy feeder is bad news for the birds. Luckily there are several options that don’t require any upkeep at all — some you can even grow in your yard! Did you know that a poorly cared for birdfeeder can harbor diseases that can be contracted by birds? You simply can’t set it and forget […]
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Bouquets of Grassy Grandeur
This time of year doesn’t lend itself to putting a bouquet of fresh-from-the-garden flowers on the table. But a dried grass arrangement is the perfect substitute — and you don’t even need to keep it in water! Everyone loves a nice bouquet, but this time of year doesn’t lend itself to putting tulips or lilies […]
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How To Have a Zero Waste Garden
Gardening can be wasteful at times, what with all the cardboard and plastic packaging of planting materials. But being mindful of the quality and lifecycle of the purchases you make can minimize what winds up in the landfill. Gardening — wonderful activity that it is — can be wasteful at times. Mulch and soil are […]
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300 Pollinator Habitats for San Antonio’s 300th Year
The monarchs butterflies may have moved on, but plenty of other butterflies are visiting the area and gracing our nectar plants. Won’t you welcome them with open arms and a garden planted just for pollinators? The monarch butterfly migration is winding down, but plenty of other butterflies are visiting the area and gracing our nectar […]
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Horseherb: The Native Turf Alternative
Although regarded by many as a weed, hardy horseherb often grows in patches where grass can’t. And in many yards it means the difference between having barren spots or not. Turf grasses are wonderful and have their uses — not everyone can turn their yard into a huge flowerbed. The “conventional wisdom” is that grass […]
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Sickles and Scythes: Not Just Scary Old-School Tools
More than just the preferred prop of the grim reaper, a scythe might be the dead-simple solution if you have a heavily sloped or oddly shaped yard. And you could save some storage space, too. Call me old-fashioned, but I love a good farm tool. Living in an 800-square-foot apartment leaves me no reason to […]
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Get To Know Texas Native Plants
Native plant know-it-alls from across Texas will be sharing a wealth of information during the 2018 Native Plant Society of Texas Symposium, Oct. 18-21. Whether you’re pro-plant, all about animals, worried about water or just nuts for nature, this weekend’s event is for you! Native plant know-it-alls from across Texas will be sharing a wealth […]
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Planting for Pollinators
Want to pique pollinator interest in your landscape? The WaterSaver Landscape Coupon can help you create your own pollinator garden. But hurry — deadline to apply is Oct. 15! If you’ve been wanting to pique pollinator interest in your landscape, you still have time to use the WaterSaver Landscape Coupon to create your own pollinator garden. With […]
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Money-Saving City Services To Spruce Up Your Yard
If you have a barren, open yard, you’re the perfect candidate for several services and programs offered by SAWS, CPS Energy and the City of San Antonio. Combine them just right for an affordable total yard makeover! When it comes to sprucing up your landscape, the City of San Antonio and its two municipally owned […]
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How to Sidestep a Citation
Avoiding a water-waste citation is easy: simply follow the watering rules. But there are a few extra precautionary measures you can take to make sure you don’t accidentally get one. San Antonio remains in Stage 2 drought restrictions and enforcement officers are staying busy, issuing citations for water wasters. Not receiving a citation is easy, simply follow […]
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Free-tailed Flights of Fancy
Experience a fabulous flight of Mexican free-tailed bats during Bat Loco: Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 6-9 p.m. near the Camden Street Bridge. The home of the largest colony of bats in the world is located just 20 miles north of San Antonio — in Bracken Cave. The wee little bats that live there save South […]
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San Antonio Soils Not Meant for Madrone
The madrone tree is known for its lovely exfoliating bark, but San Antonio soils are all wrong for it. Rest assured, there are a couple of alternatives to ease your broken heart. Chances are you have or will visit Big Bend National Park. After all, more than 16 million people have since 1944, according to […]
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Container Gardening for the Budget-Conscious Apartment Dweller
Gardening requires a decidedly different demeanor when you don’t have a big yard (or budget) to work with. But that’s no reason to give up your green thumb. Grab a pot and work with what you’ve got. As a college student, I find I’m often alone among my peers when it comes to my passion […]
