By Melinda Myers | Special to the COURIER Being a drought wise gardener doesn’t mean you have to give up the beauty of your garden, but it does mean making some changes in plant selection, garden design and maintenance. This will involve a few adjustments, but the benefits will be long lasting. As you watch your water thirsty plants suffer and perhaps die from heat and water restrictions, start thinking about replacements. Current and future water restrictions make now a good time to rethink lawn areas. Consider converting grassy paths to surfaces like mulch, permeable pavers, and gravel,  which don’t require water but allow rainfall to infiltrate the soil below.…