2025 PGSU Garden Story: Melissa & Ryan

For 21 years, Melissa and Ryan have called their Bloomington home their anchor. In early 2023, they took on a bold transformation: removing 4,547 square feet of lawn through the WCWCD Water Efficient Landscape Program (WELP). Approved for a potential $9,094 rebate, they set out to turn a thirsty yard into a water-wise desert haven—one weekend, one wheelbarrow, and one YouTube tutorial at a time.

A DIY Dream in the Desert

From the beginning, Melissa and Ryan committed to doing the work themselves. Weekends were spent hauling, digging, and planting, often guided by YouTube tutorials and their own trial and error. They laid elegant flagstone patios, learning as they went, and discovered new resources like GoEquipMe.com, where locals rent out heavy equipment for short-term projects. The approach kept costs manageable and gave them a sense of ownership over every corner of the yard.

Ryan even built a half-wall planter for the front patio, plastering it with cement for a clean finish. Melissa brought it to life with her artistry, arranging desert plants in groupings that feel intentional and balanced. Together, they’ve created an outdoor space that reflects both their determination and their creativity.

Design That Works with Nature

The planting palette is simple but striking. Melissa grouped agaves—Blue Glow and Mateo—alongside barrel cactus, pine cone cactus, and rainbow giants. Bright accents of Mexican red salvia, desert daisy, and pink gaura bring seasonal color, while larger anchors like Joshua tree, beaked yucca, palo verde, and Chilean mesquite shape the structure of the yard. Each choice reflects a careful balance of beauty, resilience, and low water needs.

The couple also experimented with materials underfoot. Instead of gravel or concrete, they sourced reject sand from Bryce Christensen Excavation—just $11 per pickup load. Compacted and lightly sprayed, it settles into a surface that looks like fine gravel but performs like firm desert soil, perfect for cacti. It’s practical, affordable, and keeps the yard feeling natural.

Keeping What Matters

Not all of the grass was removed. In both the front and back, shaded patches of lawn remain beneath very old trees. Removing it entirely would have threatened their survival, so Melissa and Ryan kept just enough to keep the trees healthy. For them, the goal was never perfection but balance: honoring what was already established while shifting the rest of the property to a more sustainable model.

Big Savings

The rebate helped launch the project, and the long-term benefits are already paying off. In 2021, the household used 289,480 gallons of water. By 2024, that number had dropped to 136,280—less than half. In just three years, they’ve saved about $4,900 in water bills. The numbers speak loudly, but the real reward is the space itself: a landscape that feels authentic to the desert, built with their own hands, and designed to last for decades.

Garden Wisdom from Melissa & Ryan

Use the right base. Compacted reject sand (about $11/load) creates a stable, porous surface ideal for cacti and low-water plantings. A quick rinse helps the fines settle and reveals a fine gravel finish.
Create rhythm with repetition. Group sculptural species (agave, barrel cactus, yucca) in small clusters and repeat them to create cohesion.
Learn-as-you-build. Quality flagstone with consistent thickness installs faster and feels better underfoot; don’t be afraid to learn from YouTube and take your time.
Rent smart. Heavy equipment from GoEquipMe.com lets DIYers tackle big tasks at lower cost.
Protect heritage trees. If mature trees rely on consistent moisture, consider keeping limited turf or an alternative moisture strategy under their canopy.
Source locally, diversify regionally. Mix local and nearby nurseries to find healthy stock and a wider palette (Oasis Gardens, Star Nursery in St. George & Mesquite, VA Nursery in Littlefield).