Replacing water-hogging plants

Sustainable landscaping? Xeriscaping? Drought-scaping? Whatever the gardening term, the days of thirsty plants are over, according to Aaron Ryan of Cottage Gardens. At the Valley of the Moon Garden Club meeting on May 7, Ryan will discuss “Switching-out ‘water-hog plants’ for ‘water-conservation’ plants.”

The Bay Area native and majored in Plant Physiology and Horticulture at U. C. Santa Cruz, and worked in the U. C. Santa Cruz Botanical Garden. He is involved in all phases of Cottage Gardens in Petaluma, which specializes in perennials, succulents, and edibles.

In the free Sonoma lecture, Ryan will focus on plants whose natural requirements are appropriate to Sonoma Valley’s climate and conditions , and explain how to reach your gardening vision with responsible design and selection options, given California’s serious drought conditions.

The meeting is at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Building, 126 First St. W., and begins at 6:30 p.m. with the presentation beginning at 7 p.m. The club provides refreshments, a plant raffle and information on club programs. Members are free and guests are $5, which can go toward the $20 membership fee. For additional information, visit vom-garden-club.org.