Blue glow agave, gold fernleaf yarrow and California fuchsia are among the plants featured at a new low-water-use demonstration garden at the North Marin Water District headquarters in Novato. Looking to help customers replace their thirsty lawns with these and other drought-tolerant plants, the district recently unveiled the garden and increased its cash-for-grass rebate incentive hoping to promote change. Last month, the rebate increased 50 cents, to $1.50 per square foot of lawn area replaced with qualifying plantings, up to $1,500 per house. Projects that meet an extra set of standards can earn a bonus $1 per square foot. The new incentives are supported by an influx of grant funding, including $87,750 from the Bureau of Reclamation.

Other water conservation and landscaping news:

• The San Diego Union-Tribune: WaterSmart makeover: A forest of cycads in Vista​
• South Tahoe Now (South Lake Tahoe, Calif): Compliance to upcoming state law leads to some dying turf in South Lake Tahoe
• UC Master Gardener Program: Blog: Promoting health for people and communities