Wilder was retained by Del Webb Dove Mountain Community Association (DWDMCA) to work with their elected Landscape Team (resident volunteers) to develop plans for transitioning the community to a sustainable, low irrigation Sonoran Desert landscape. This is one of the initial projects under the Tucson HOA Landscape Transformation Program (developed by City of Tucson Water and the University of Arizona / Pima County Cooperative Extension / Smartscape program). Wilder worked with DWDMCA for a period of six months, developing conceptual plans for the common areas including parks, entries, and streetscapes. These plans and associated guidelines and estimates of costs will be used by the community to implement the projects over time.

While water savings drive the Smartscape HOA Landscape Transformation Program, for us, that is just the beginning. Creating a sustainable and ecologically sound landscape requires more than simply turning off the water – companion elements such as plant selection and maintenance are equally important. Our most beautiful expanses of desert (think Saguaro National Park and the Tucson Mountains) are beautiful precisely because they are un-manicured spaces. These spaces are filled with wildflowers, small shrubs and grasses that are frequently missing from our designed landscapes. The spectacular scenery of the surrounding desert requires exactly no irrigation. There are many great reasons to choose local, native plants: little to no irrigation, supports local birds and wildlife, preserves a bit of our desert that is disappearing due to never-ending development.