Above-average snowpack, and more heavy, wet snow on the way this spring may have some residents breathing a sigh of relief when it comes to Colorado’s drought status.

But nonprofit water conservation group Resource Central, which has partnered with Greeley and Eaton water providers, is here to pop that water balloon – well, kind of.

“We’re concerned that recent storms may cloud memories of drought,” Resource Central President Neal Lurie said in a news release from the nonprofit. “Mother Nature has given us the precious gift of precipitation, ideal conditions to get water-wise plants established.”

And how would residents do that?

Meet the Garden In a Box. The Tribune has written about the program the past few years, and it’s back again this year.

Here’s how it works: Go to https://resourcecentral.org/gardens/shop, and take your pick from a variety of options for plants that require limited water resources. You have until May 8 to order, but supplies are limited, and residents are encouraged to place orders quickly, Lurie said.

Then go to the local Greeley pickup day May 18 at the Greeley Xeriscape Garden, 2503 Reservoir Road.

Why it matters: Thanks to the Garden in a Box program, Front Range families have planted more than 500,000 drought-tolerant plants, saving more than 100 million gallons of water. That’s about one-third of a (winter) month’s worth of water for the city of Greeley. And the program has transformed 1.8 million square feet of land into low-watering landscaping, according to the release. Further, as Greeley and northern Colorado continue to grow, it puts stress on the state’s finite water resources.

Quotable: “You don’t need to have a green thumb to add a pop of color to your yard,” programs manager Devon Booth said in the release. “We support the use of native plants that are pollinator friendly and well suited to Colorado’s dry climate.”