Gardening in the hot areas of the United States is a particular challenge. A wide array of handsome native plants are available for cultivation, but to achieve the most satisfying variety of texture and bloom, plants from other parts of the country are desirable. From the Greek word xeros, meaning "dry", comes the term xeriscaping, which is simply landscaping using minimal irrigation. The secret is to use tough, drought-tolerant plants that need neither intensive irrigation nor rich, amended soil. Fortunately, there are numerous such perennials that are garden favorites no matter what the climate. So, even though Cacti and Yuccas are beautiful, you need no limit your gardening to these varieties. And by using plants that are undemanding of water, you help conserve valuable water resources. Even drought-tolerant plants need occasional watering (especially while becoming established), so look around your area to find out what irrigation requirements you'll probably have. If at all possible, install an appropriate type of drip irrigation system to conserve water and maximnnize its effect. Apply a layer of mulch on the planting bed to reduce evaporation and cool the perennials' roots. By combining these strategies with the garden design shown here, you will achieve a beautiful, environmentally friendly landscape feature.