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WaterSense
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Landscape Photo Challenges

Photo challenges banner

Homeowners in the US and Canada are planting beautiful, efficient and diverse landscapes that use water-smart design features, such as:

Do You Have a Water-Smart Landscape?

Until our next photo challenge, WaterSense is looking to showcase water-saving beauties. If your landscape is water-smart or you’ve designed one that is, contact the WaterSense Helpline to learn how it can be included in the Water–Smart Landscape Photo Gallery.

  • Drought tolerant, low water–using, or native plants
  • Mulch around shrubs and garden plants
  • Limited or functional use of turfgrass
  • Water-efficient irrigation design and components (e.g., micro or drip irrigation, weather–based irrigation controllers)

WaterSense periodically issues challenges to consumers to show us how they are saving water outdoors, which is especially important over the hot summer months and during times of drought.  The photos entries we get expand our  Water–Smart Landscape Photo Gallery and show what can be accomplished to promote and create a beautiful water-saving yard.

On this Page:

  • 2015 Challenge
  • 2013 Challenge

2015 Challenge 

Congrats to our winners

The #WaterSavingYard Photo Challenge received entries from across the U.S. The photos were submitted and voted on between July and September 2015—and prove that when in drought (or not!), it is still possible to have a beautiful landscape that requires little to no additional watering.

Congratulations to Pamela Kass from San Marcos, CA! Pamela’s submission to our #WaterSavingYard Photo Challenge won fan favorite by receiving the most votes on WaterSense’s Facebook page. Congratulations also goes to Back to Natives for their photo from Garden Grove, CA with the most likes on Instagram! Congratulations to all of our fan favorites! 

Facebook Fan Favorite:

Image of fan favorite landscape photo
Pamela Kass
San Marcos, CA 
99 Likes

Facebook Fan Favorite Runner Ups:

2nd place fan favorite garden by Judith Chaddock
Judith Chaddock
Flagstaff, AZ
49 Likes
Fan favorite 3rd place backyard winner Patrick Dickinson
Patrick Dickinson
Dallas, TX
48 Likes

Instagram Fan Favorite:

Instagram image of first place fan favorite
Back to Natives
Garden Grove, CA
59 Likes
2nd place image from Instagram
Back to Natives
Newport Beach, CA
58 Likes
3rd place winner instagram photo
Back to Natives
Newport Beach, CA
57 Likes
3rd place winner instagram photo 2
Back to Natives
Laguna Beach, CA
57 Likes


2013 Challenge

Ten finalists were selected from hundreds of submissions to participate in the contest, which was open for voting in April 2013. The landscapes came from various regions and offered beautiful examples of low water–using plants and efficient watering systems, including drip irrigation and rain water capture. Many of the examples were so water–smart they required no supplemental water.

Congratulations to Gino Piscelli and his team from Mississauga, Ontario! Gino’s submission to our Water–Smart Landscape Photo Contest won first place, beating out nine other finalists, by receiving the most votes on Facebook.

Winner circle image of landscape, 1st place
John Warnaar (left), Gino Piscelli (center), and Jeremy Harris (right)
Mississauga, Ontario
Winner circle image of landscape, 2nd place
Joy Stewart
Bristol, Tennessee
Winner circle image of landscape, 3rd place
Linda Andrews
Olympia, Washington
Winner circle image of landscape, 4th place
John Galbraith
Grants Pass, Oregon
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Last updated on October 13, 2022
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