Xeriscape Gardens
Aurora Municipal Xeriscape Garden The Aurora Municipal Center (AMC) Xeriscape Garden is a high plain garden made up of six acres of rolling hills and beautiful plants. The garden is located at the northwest corner of Alameda Parkway and Chambers Road and is open from dawn to dusk daily. Built in 2002 to serve as an example of low-water use landscaping, the garden includes a variety of plants clearly labeled so visitors can take ideas home and use them in their own yard. Signs also explain the seven steps of Xeriscape. The garden requires very little water and when irrigated, is watered with reclaimed water (nonpotable water) from Aurora’s Sand Creek Wastewater Reclamation Plant. Nonpotable water is water that has been treated at a treatment plant, but is not suitable for drinking water. The majority of the city’s parks, golf courses, and open space are irrigated with nonpotable water. Nonpotable water does not impact the city’s drinking water supply. There are plans to expand the garden in the future to provide room for events such as concerts or art shows.	Photo by Greg Fischer
Kuiper High Plains Garden The Kuiper Garden is located at 14201 E. Hampden Ave. next door to the Griswold Water Treatment Plant. The garden is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. It can be a little hard to find, so these directions will help. From Hampden Avenue head north on Dawson Street at the stop light. Go through the street crossing and up the hill toward the gates. You’ll need to press the button at the gate and tell the attendant you are there to see the garden. Kuiper Garden is our test garden so you’ll find lots of changing garden plots. We’re featuring a no water garden and a sub-surface sod irrigation test currently.	Photo by Greg Fischer