Want to save time? Want to stop and smell the roses and quit dragging the hoses over them? Want a lush garden and a lower water bill? Then get on the drip.

This spring I converted my garden to a drip system and have been singing its praises ever since to anyone who will listen. Imagine my joy when the last goof plug was inserted and I went to turn the system on. Then hearing pop, pop, pop and looking up to see every goof plug and emitter flying through the air. To my amazement I had created a huge water fountain in the garden! Of course, this was not my intention. Luckily, Master Gardener De Lewis and Extension Agent Rob Call were presenting a To Drip or not to Drip seminar the following week. I'm not going to go into the details of how to set up a drip system, but remember when you were a kid and made things from Legos and Lincoln Logs? It's that simple. Check out the library for info and drip equipment companies usually provide a free pamphlet with their systems.

What I do want to relay to you is the absolute joy it has provided me. I was spending three hours, three times a week dragging a hose through my garden watering. Now I water once every 10-14 days as necessary (use your soil probe to check if watering is needed). Plants that were on the verge of dying are now huge, lush jungle plants. You can expand the system-when adding new plants it's so easy to get them 'on-line.' Just locate the poly hose, punch a line into it, and add the appropriate emitters and you're done. You can regulate precisely the amount of water that is being delivered to a plant and wean them off or increase the water as needed. Drip waters the root zone thoroughly without loss to evaporation. The water is kept off the foliage which decreases certain diseases. You can put it on a timer so watering is done automatically when you're on vacation. The only thing I can say against drip is that it can cost a little during initial set up.

Oh, but returns I gain-sitting on the deck enjoying the sunset with a glass of lemonade watching the hummers while the plants are being watered-is priceless. By the way, if you also create a water wonderland, check your pressure regulator.