If history repeats itself then it should only be a matter of days before the Denver media once again portrays the annual drama of some eco-maniac hydro-warrior being picked on by his HOA (homeowners association) for violating uniform landscaping codes in attempt to save a few gallons of water with yuccas and cacti.

It's unfortunate that in this yearly saga, the message that most Front Range residents take away is don't xeriscape (pronounced zeeri-scape). The moral always sounds the same: if you plant anything that saves water you may find yourself in a battle with the HOA. Also lost in the message is that having a xeric landscape does not mean converting your lawn to gravel lot adorned with a few cacti - an approach some in the landscape industry call "zero-scaping".

The reality is that many homeowners are already xeriscaping without their HOA (or their neighbors) knowing anything about it. You see, the most basic principle of xeriscaping is to use plants that can thrive with little or no supplemental water from the homeowner. Sages, ornamental grasses and coneflowers for example. Most HOAs impose rules about what percentage of home lots must be covered with vegetation, but few go so far as to identify plants that violate the code. To the contrary, a growing number of HOA rule books contain lists of desirable plants that can thrive in Colorado without much supplemental water.

So how do homeowners go about xeriscaping their yards without being challenged by their HOA? It's simple really. They start by identifying plants they find desirable and then check the plants' needs for water. A trip to the Denver Botanic Gardens or municipal demonstration garden is the simplest way to do both at once. Then they prepare the plant beds with nutrient rich soil amendments such as compost and follow other care instructions carefully.

Following are a few good rules of thumb to live by when xeriscaping in Colorado:
>Plants that are native to the area tend to need little supplemental water.
>Perennials often require less water (and maintenance) than annuals - plants that only live one season.
>Plants that call for full sun on the tag are good bets in Colorado except in very shady areas.
>Even xeric plants need plenty of water when first getting established.
>Locate plants with greater irrigation needs close to water sources.
>Ask your local nursery to show you plants that are xeric.

Research plants online at sites like the one developed by Jefferson County Cooperative Extension service at www.co.jefferson.co.us/coopext/intro.jsp