ETWD Demonstration Garden

In response to California’s historic 2015–2016 drought, El Toro Water District (ETWD) transformed portions of its Main Office landscape into a water-efficient Demonstration Garden. Completed in May 2017, the garden is located at 24251 Los Alisos Blvd., Lake Forest, CA 92630.

The project revitalized landscaping throughout the Main Office property, including the parking lot, the former large turf area along Los Alisos Boulevard, and the east and west sides of the main driveway entrance.

A Living Example of Water-Efficient Landscaping

The ETWD Demonstration Garden was created to educate and inspire the community by showcasing attractive, practical alternatives to traditional water-intensive landscapes. Visitors can explore a diverse collection of California Friendly, native, and drought-tolerant plants that demonstrate how beautiful landscapes can thrive while using water efficiently.

Outdoor irrigation represents one of the greatest opportunities for water conservation. By replacing a large, water-intensive lawn with climate-appropriate plants and efficient irrigation, ETWD demonstrates how residential and commercial properties can significantly reduce outdoor water use without sacrificing beauty, color, or variety.

The garden also provides valuable habitat for local wildlife and pollinators, including hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, beneficial insects, and birds.

Explore the Garden

The Demonstration Garden features approximately 100 plant varieties and four distinct garden areas inspired by plants from:

• Australia and New Zealand
• The Mediterranean
• South Africa
• Succulent landscapes

California Friendly and native plants are incoporated throughout the garden.

Water-efficient landscaping features include decomposed granite walkways, decorative boulders, dry creek beds, a pedestrian bridge, mulch, and synthetic turf. The garden also incorporates smart irrigation controllers and an updated drip irrigation system to demonstrate efficient irrigation practices.

Individual plant identification signs and educational interpretive signage throughout the garden help visitors learn about the plants, landscape features, and water-saving techniques on display.

Whether you are planning a complete landscape transformation or simply looking for ideas to make your yard more water-efficient, the ETWD Demonstration Garden offers practical inspiration for creating a colorful, beautiful, and sustainable landscape.