Lauren Gilger/KJZZ

The pond in Michael Lanier’s backyard isn’t just for looks. It has fish, and you can wade in it.

As our region faces a long term drought, a lot of Phoenix residents are doing what they can to help out, including rethinking their yards.

Xeriscaping has been a thing for a while now, but Michael Lanier is taking that concept to a whole new level. 

Lauren Gilger/KJZZ

Michael Lanier is the owner of Pueblo, a plant store on Grand Avenue in Phoenix.

Lanier is the owner of Pueblo, a plant store on Grand Avenue in downtown Phoenix that’s known for its well-informed staff and hip aesthetic. 

Just down the street from the shop, Lanier's backyard is full of life. From an array of birds to a species of frog or two, Lanier and his partner have made their yard an urban oasis that harkens back to the way this desert looked before anyone lived here.

Lauren Gilger/KJZZ

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