Elena Maldonado was the winner of this year's UTMB Earth Day Art Contest which was based on the theme "No drought about it...water matters."
"Rain water harvesting is a great and inexpensive way to conserve water. My husband, Eric, and I choose to lead by example, and the use of a rain barrel is just one way we can demonstrate to our two daughters, Hope and Wendy, that we are doing our part. Having recently purchased a home, we plan on using DIY instructions to make our own rain barrel. There are so many beautiful plants and flowers native to Texas which require minimal watering; I hope my entry encourages people to purchase or make their own rain barrel. Hopefully, the flowers drawn in my entry demonstrate the beauty Texas is known for."