TYLER (KYTX) - Caretakers at the Tyler Rose Garden say they can't stress enough how different the blooms look compared to last year. They hope that means less water usage for them and homeowners alike.
"Thank goodness mother nature has come through for us this year," Craig Reiland, a horticulture supervisor with the City of Tyler, said.
Donna Shipman, who lives in Tyler, echoes that sentiment. "It's been wonderful. I've had to water the lawn less ," Shipman said.
And because the rain has fallen, so has her water bill. "It's going to cut it about in half," Shipman said.
That's good news for gardeners who say the less maintenance needed the better.
"It looks like we may get a repeat bloom from our spring bloom because of the fact we've had sufficient rains," Reiland said. He adds roses are more resilient than most plants, while others can't handle the heat.
Greg Morgan, Tyler Water Department Director, says that's why outdoor water use continues to climb during the summer. "Last year a lot of people lost a lot of plantings and yard due to the drought and heat conditions," Morgan said.
Tyler citizens actually hit a record last July with water, using 50 million gallons in just one day. "I do not believe we'll see that reoccur this year," Morgan said.
He encourages you to conserve, and take advantage of the moisture. "One big call we get is people who see an irrigation system running in the rain," Morgan said.
A misstep that can be corrected by checking those sprinklers and using drought-resistant plants.
