This month I spoke with Mark, who recently moved into a Denver home that was in desperate need of landscaping. But with the help of Resource Central’s Garden In A Box and Waterwise Yard Seminar programs, his yard is now unrecognizable. The weeds are gone, and the pollinators have come to stay!

“We moved into our first house, and the lawn was basically just a big weed lawn. We looked around and thought ‘what do we do?’. We started researching, and that’s when we found Resource Central. Waterwise landscaping was brand new to us, but Garden In A Box made it easy to figure out how to move forward”.

The first step was clearing a space. Using tips gleaned from our Waterwise Yard Seminar on Lawn Removal, Mark opted for the solarization method. After covering the space with dark plastic sheets, he sat back and let the sun take over. Within a few weeks, the grass and weeds were dead, and Mark was ready to plant.

Mark purchased his first Garden In A Box in Spring of 2025 and has ordered a garden every season since. “The first year was our back yard, this second year was our front yard, and I’m sure the years to follow will be filling in here and there or making new garden beds.”

Mark’s waterwise plants quickly brought life and color to his previously neglected yard. Seeing the payoff, Mark was motivated to keep this project going. “Aside from the pollinators, the most surprising and fun part was just how quickly the perennials took to their new spot. I was fully expecting that they’d stay small, and maybe in three years we’d see them in their full glory. But by the end of the summer and into the fall, they were thriving.” Now, bees and butterflies are regular visitors to Mark’s home, but they’re not the only ones.

Converting his landscape also helped Mark connect with his neighbors. “Our neighbors love it, and we’ve had lots of positive feedback. I even met a neighbor around the corner who does native plant gardening. My garden sparked a conversation, and it was really nice to talk with this person that I might not have had another reason to talk to”.

Mark credits his success, in part, to the resources that come with a Garden In A Box kit. “I feel like a lot of the guesswork is taken care of. If you want to convert your landscape, just pick a spot, find a garden you like, and don’t think too hard about it. With Garden In A Box’s resources, you’ll have all you need to get going.”

Mark also stressed the importance of using other resources in landscape transformation. Videos, articles, and fact sheets from CSU Extension helped Mark answer some outstanding questions. And when looking to add onto his gardens, Mark found local nurseries to  be invaluable. “The nurseries around town had really cool, cheap plants, and great staff that were pretty knowledgeable about low-water landscaping.”

All in all, Mark found his experience to be “very gratifying”, and one that he’d do all over again!

Feeling inspired to transition to a more waterwise landscape? Get started now by ordering a Garden In A Box kit for Late Summer pickup.

Thanks for tuning in! ‘Til next time. -Ben

At Resource Central, we believe that we can build a resilient and waterwise Colorado together through local action on a massive scale.

The individuals featured in this blog series are only snapshots of the work that’s being done by so many Coloradans to work toward that goal. So, whether you’re just starting to improve your water efficiency, are a seasoned low-water gardener, or are reading this blog and learning about waterwise gardening for the first time, thank you for joining us in creating a more waterwise future.

Are you interested in sharing your story or know of someone who would be great to feature? Email us with details!

And don’t forget! You can always find more inspiring stories using the Waterwise Communities tag on our blog page!