Wilmot J. Collins Mayor at City of Helena | LinkedIn
Wilmot J. Collins Mayor at City of Helena | LinkedIn
The City of Helena is set to launch a new sustainability initiative this month, focusing on the Law and Justice Center at 406 Fuller Avenue. A new Xeriscape Garden will be installed to enhance conservation-friendly landscaping efforts. The project is spearheaded by Devon Malizia, a landscape designer and owner of Trellis + Trowels, who has donated her time and expertise.
A planting event will take place on August 14 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the city seeking volunteers to help plant over 1,100 plants, trees, and grasses. Interested individuals can sign up at https://signup.com/go/tbdthOX.
This project builds upon a smaller Xeriscaping garden installed at the same location in 2023. The idea was initially proposed by Malizia and Helena Citizen Council representative Diana Hammer last year and subsequently included in the city’s budget. Xeriscaping employs native and drought-tolerant plants to create landscapes that require less water while maintaining aesthetic appeal and low maintenance needs. Such gardens can also provide habitats for pollinators by incorporating native species. Helena receives an average of about 11 inches of precipitation annually.
“I see enormous potential here to create a beautiful and welcoming space while also serving as a demonstration and educational site - and bonus: requiring less maintenance and water,” Hammer stated. “A win-win-win!”
Malizia designed the garden using Montana's keystone species, which are essential for supporting local pollinators' ecosystems.
“Our community continues to see increasing weather extremes, so climate resiliency is at the heart of this project,” Malizia said. “It was a natural fit to design these spaces using xeric principles and with native and keystone species; the entire system supports water conservation and champions biodiversity. These redesigned spaces are structured to capture and conserve natural precipitation and thrive in harsh conditions. But they also offer people an opportunity to learn about pollinator pathways and bioswales or listen to songbirds under a canopy of shade."
For questions or comments regarding this project, contact:
Bridget Johnston
City of Helena, Community Facilities Manager
316 North Park Avenue, Room 241
(406) 447-8399
bjohnston@helenamt.gov
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