St. George residents recently explored the transformative potential of water-wise landscaping during the 2026 Parade of Gardens, held April 24–26 across 11 private residential gardens in Washington County.

This third annual self-guided tour shattered previous attendance records, drawing 767 participants—a 50% increase from prior years. The event highlighted homeowners who have embraced water-efficient landscaping through the Washington County Water Conservancy District's grass replacement program, which offers residents $2 per square foot to replace traditional lawns with drought-tolerant alternatives.

One notable participant, Marilyn Pabon, transformed her entire front yard into a Mediterranean-style garden in just three days. Initially deterred by cost, Pabon discovered the program through a friend. "We can't afford it right now. It's in my bucket list, but it's not at the top of the list. And so he asked me if I'd heard about the water conservation program, which I hadn't," she said. The program covered half the cost of her conversion, leading to a 50% reduction in her water usage and increased enjoyment of her outdoor space. "And I knew it was going to be better than the grass that I never ever stepped on or used in all the years that we've lived here. And now that we have it like this, we're out here all the time," Pabon added.

The new garden features water-efficient irrigation with individual emitters for each plant. Avoiding chemical weed control was also a priority for Pabon. "Spraying it with poison. And what is worse, using water or poisoning the earth all the little plants and the birds and the bees and everything with the poison," she said.

Other gardens featured in the parade included pollinator areas established under a state program encouraging the growth of bee and butterfly populations with minimal water use.

Karen Goodfellow, CSU Water Program Manager and Parade of Gardens Chair, emphasized the event's broader significance. "Each garden tells a story. This event is about more than just beautiful spaces… it's about inspiring people to create something meaningful in their own yards, no matter the size," she said.

Conserve Southwest Utah presented the event in partnership with the Washington County Water Conservancy District and local sponsors. Organizers noted that hundreds of attendees left with a deeper understanding of conservation practices and the importance of protecting the Virgin River Watershed, the region's primary water source.