May 18, 2026

Native Grass Expert to Speak at Fair

Northern Water’s Annual Conservation Gardens Fair is only a few weeks away, and one of the educational talks will feature native grass expert and longtime Northern Water partner Kate Graves. Graves and her family have worked with Northern Water for over 40 years providing revegetation and reseeding work on multiple projects. With degrees in Soil and Crop Sciences, Natural Resources and Rangeland Science, Graves has more than 25 years of experience in reclamation, revegetation planning and environmental stewardship. Her expertise and hands-on approach have made her a trusted resource in restoring and maintaining resilient landscapes. 

At the fair, Graves will focus on the expectations and challenges in establishing drought-tolerant native grasses. She will educate attendees about native grass transformation, highlighting how many homeowners and HOA-managed communities can benefit from transforming their landscapes to native grass. Her presentation will highlight the benefits of native grass including water, cost and time savings, in addition to its resilience during extended periods of drought.  

Two men walking near a sign for the Conservation Gardens.

“Now is actually a great time for the Conservation Gardens Fair,” said Graves, “People will get to see in person what native landscapes look like during a true drought and learn about how to maintain them.”  

Graves encourages attendees to approach native landscaping with an open-mind and a willingness to rethink traditional yards. “We know that the native grass species in Colorado have been here for millions of years. They are going to weather droughts much better than non-natives,” she said. Graves observed this resilience firsthand in her own landscape, where native plants and grasses responded well to recent precipitation with little to no additional maintenance due to their adaptation to Colorado’s dry climate and weather patterns.  

The Conservation Gardens Fair is set for June 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Northern Water’s Berthoud campus. In addition to Graves’ presentation, attendees can enjoy a full schedule of educational talks water-efficient landscapes, guided garden tours, family-friendly activities, food trucks, plant giveaways and more.