Horticulture Leader Tom Ash to Lead Orange Coast College Xeriscape Course

Petaluma, Calif., March 16, 2005 – Tom Ash, Director of Conservation Alliances for HydroPoint Data Systems, will teach a Xeriscape course at Orange Coast College (OCC) in Costa Mesa, CA. Mr. Ash’s spring semester course, one of the most popular courses in the OCC horticulture curriculum, will instruct participants in the design and maintenance of Xeriscape landscapes. Interest in Xeriscaping is increasing as green industry professionals look to water-efficient landscapes to meet outdoor water use restrictions now commonplace throughout Southern California.

Tom Ash, author of several guides including Landscape Management for Water Savings: Profiting in a Limited Water Future, published by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, will provide students with an in-depth review of water-efficient landscape management. The course will cover effective strategies for coping with limited water supplies. Students will discover how over-watering landscapes contributes to ocean pollution and has other damaging effects. They’ll also learn about the varied water needs of plant types and how these requirements can change daily because of evapotranspiration (ET). A field trip to a public Xeriscape landscape will provide the class with a first-hand look at water-efficient horticulture practices and irrigation systems in action. Additionally, Mr. Ash will examine the future of the green industry, in terms of job growth and required skills sets.

Landscape professionals and enthusiasts are encouraged to enroll. Class size is limited, so interested individuals should register soon. Follow these instructions to enroll:

• Go to the OCC Web site at www.orangecoastcollege.edu
• Click “Spring 2005 Class Schedule”
• Click “Display All Classes by Department”
• Click “Ornamental Horticulture” (in Math/Science section)
• Select “OH 190 – Xeriscape”

This eight-week course begins April 4th at 5:00 PM in the Ornamental Horticulture building on the OCC campus.

“By selecting low-water use plants and taking advantage of water conserving irrigation controllers like WeatherTRAK, horticulture professionals can deliver beautiful landscapes that conserve water and reduce water bills. Water-efficient landscapes are the future of the industry and where the best jobs are found,” said Tom Ash, Director of Conservation Alliances, HydroPoint.

The trend toward water-efficient landscapes is supported by public rebate and voucher programs across California. By covering up to 50% of the cost of the WeatherTRAK controller, such programs accelerate return on investment for contractors and end users. For product and program information, call Sharon Connelly of HydroPoint Sales at 800.362.8774, ext. 121.

ABOUT HYDROPOINT DATA SYSTEMS, INC.

HydroPoint and its partners provide WeatherTRAK irrigation management solutions for residential and commercial landscapes. The patented WeatherTRAK technology calculates customized irrigation schedules and then automatically adjusts irrigation as local weather changes. By using WeatherTRAK to apply the right amount of water at the right time, customers improve landscape health, conserve water, decrease water usage costs and protect the environment. WeatherTRAK is smart irrigation, made simple.

Based in Petaluma, California, HydroPoint is privately owned and operated. For more information, please visit www.hydropoint.com.