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The City of Moscow established the Wisescape concepts in 2008 to promote water-efficient landscaping on the Palouse. The concepts include landscape design, reduction of resource use, soil enhancements, and plant selection. Please go to Wisescape Guidebook (PDF) for more details.
The term Xeriscape was created from the Greek word "Xeros" meaning dry and the word "Scape" from landscape. Xeriscaping is a strategy of sustainable landscaping that involves planting low water requiring plants. Through xeriscaping, individuals are able to save water, and therefore money. The cities of Moscow and Pullman built upon this concept to develop landscaping themes that work especially well with the unique environment within the Palouse.
In 2001 the City of Moscow and the University of Idaho collaborated to create a Xeriscape demonstration garden located at the University of Idaho arboretum. The garden includes: bunch grasses, brushes, flowers, turf grass, and a variety of other low water requiring plants available for public viewing.