Save Our Water Featured on New Sunset Plant Collection

SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwire - Jun 14, 2012) - Sunset's new Sunset Western Garden Collection -- a line of top-performing plants for the Western gardener -- will feature the Save Our Water logo on the water-wise plants in the collection. The collection, available in stores starting this week, features 29 plants, 20 of which are California-friendly, low-water use plants. Sunset has plans to expand the collection in coming months.

Save Our Water, the state's largest water conservation program, was launched in 2009 by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) and the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA). The program is currently the sponsor of Sunset's popular Plant Finder tool (desktop and mobile versions).

"Sunset and Save Our Water share a common goal in helping Californians learn how to reduce their outdoor water use while still enjoying beautiful landscaping," said Tim Quinn, ACWA's executive director. "Having the Save Our Water logo on these water-wise plants will help homeowners make smart plant choices that will reduce their outdoor water use."

The plants are currently sold at select independent garden centers and Orchard Supply Hardware and Lowe's locations throughout the state. Consumers can easily locate the nearest retailer of the collection by visiting http://sunsetwesterngardencollection.com/find-retailers/.

"Providing a wide array of beautiful water-wise plants has been a top priority for Sunset from the moment we set out to develop the Sunset Western Garden Collection," said Barb Newton, president, Sunset Publishing. "We are thrilled to be providing Western gardeners with another great way to create gardens that are as beautiful as they are smart for the Earth."

Save Our Water's research has shown that Californians believe that they use more water indoors than outdoors, when the opposite is true. As a result, outdoor water conservation has been a major focus for the program. The program also encourages Californians to reduce their outdoor water use with its Real People, Real Savings campaign which features virtual tours of dozens of California homes which have reduced their water use through landscape design changes.

"Half or more of the water Californians use daily may go to lawns and outdoor landscaping," said DWR Director Mark Cowin. "We cannot take that water for granted. The Sunset-Save Our Water partnership will help Californians make smart landscaping choices that pay off in water savings for years to come."

For more ways to save and to learn more about the Save Our Water program, visit www.saveourh2o.org or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Save Our Water is a partnership between the California Department of Water Resources and the Association of California Water Agencies.

Sunset magazine was founded in 1898 and has become the premier guide to life in the West, covering the newest and best ideas in Western home design and garden, food and entertaining, and regional travel in 13 Western states. It is published in five zoned monthly editions -- Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Southern California, Southwest and Mountain -- showcasing the region's unique lifestyle and noteworthy destinations and inspiring its nearly five million readers to achieve the dream of living in the West. The magazine is also available on all tablets. Sunset is part of the Lifestyle group of magazines and websites published by Time Inc.