Clearwater couple wins 2016 Water-Wise Award

Tiki and Brian Bates of Clearwater are the winners of the 2016 Water-Wise Award in the single-family residential category.

Tiki was on hand at the Jan. 24 Pinellas County Commissioners meeting where she received recognition and the coveted mosaic-glass stone from Brian Niemann, Florida-Friendly Landscaping Extension agent and commission Chair Janet Long.

The Bates have lived in their home in Coachman Lakes Estate since 2000 and have spent many years working to transform their yard into an urban oasis, Niemann said. Because their yard wasn’t suitable for growing grass, they decided to create a landscape made up entirely of shrubs, trees and groundcovers.

Niemann pointed out that their wise choice of plants makes it possible for their landscape to exist primarily on rainfall. The couple does have a 1,200-gallon cistern and a series of hoses they can use. In times of extreme drought, they also can use the in-ground irrigation system that came with the house to keep their plants alive.