Bring your dream yard to life: Join the Growing Natives Garden Tour this spring

March 24, 2026

Purple penstemon flowers in full bloom fill a residential front yard garden, lining a walkway that leads to a house, with drought-tolerant landscaping and greenery throughout. — Photo credit: Bianca Vallorz, Golden State Gardens

Spring is arriving across Santa Clara County, and with it comes a burst of color that transforms our neighborhoods into living landscapes of native flowers, fragrant foliage and the gentle movement of pollinators. It’s the time of year when many of us look at our own yards and wonder what they could become. This season, Valley Water invites you to get inspired at the Growing Natives Garden Tour, where local gardens showcase what’s possible when you work with nature. Register today at GNGT.org and enjoy visiting local yards on April 18 and 19, 2026.

The tour offers a welcoming look at real homes that have replaced traditional lawns with vibrant, low-water California natives. As you wander through these spaces, you’ll see how artfully chosen plants can create landscapes that feel colorful, inviting, and connected to the region’s natural beauty. Every garden offers its own personality. Some are bursting with wildflower color, others designed with peaceful paths and quiet shade, all thriving with far less water than the landscapes they once replaced.

For many visitors, the tour is where big dreams begin. And when you’re ready to bring your dream yard to life, Valley Water’s Landscape Rebate Program can help make that transformation a reality. Santa Clara County residents can qualify for $3,000 or more in rebates when replacing a lawn with a water-efficient landscape. From sheet mulching and drip irrigation to rain gardens and native plant selections, these upgrades not only conserve water but also create outdoor spaces that look beautiful year-round. Learn more at WaterSavings.org.

Spring is the perfect moment to explore what’s possible. Whether you’re just beginning to imagine a new yard or ready to take the next step, the Growing Natives Garden Tour offers inspiration, and Valley Water’s landscape rebates offer support. Together, they make it easier than ever to create a yard that reflects the natural beauty of our region and uses water wisely.

Discover the tour at GNGT.org, learn about rebates at valleywater.org/landscape-rebates, and start the journey to bring your dream yard to life.

Valley Water manages an integrated water resources system that includes the supply of clean, safe water, flood protection and stewardship of streams on behalf of Santa Clara County's 2 million residents. Valley Water effectively manages 10 dams and surface water reservoirs, three water treatment plants, an advanced recycled water purification center, a state-of-the-art water quality laboratory, nearly 285 acres of groundwater recharge ponds and 333 miles of waterways. We provide wholesale water and groundwater management services to local municipalities and private water retailers who deliver drinking water directly to homes and businesses in Santa Clara County.