Yes - that is my current way of "sprinkling" Scott! It is good, clean fun. I also have 2 spray heads in raised beds that cover the lawn incompletely and a long run of soaker
I'm told I need 5 zones.
The 3 flower beds along the deck/stair are small but need water. From there the hill drops off abruptly to a narrow flat area at the bottom of the property. That is the N. side of the yard.
In the center and S. side, there is a raised flower bed held in place by a rock wall about 4 ft. high. Just W. of that is the lawn - about 600 ft2 and used for drying out backpacking tents, dog play area, gf sunning, etc.
To the W. of the lawn is a raised berm in an "S" shape about 2 ft high - it is planted with flowers, so needs water. (by "planted" I mean I paid some guys to scrape off all the errant grass and weeds, had top soil blown in, and then scatter bulk wildflower mix in the spring - low effort & low cost).
To the W. of that berm, the hill drops off sharply - so sharply you cannot walk there without some good tread on your boot - you'll fall in sandals or slide in shoes - ask me how I know. it is nasty clay and was covered in English Ivy when I bought the place. I paid some guys to pull the ivy out and then killed it by pulling off any hopeful leaves and shoots it sent up for the next 2 years. My goal now is to plant some St. Johns wort as a ground cover. Toss Calif. poppy seed down there and sprinkle it enough to get things started and then maintained. Maybe plant an azalea or something if I get excited.
As on the side by the deck/stairway, there is a narrow flat area that runs all along the bottom (W. side) of the property. I have some kind of ground cover started down ther, and am not sure how much water will be needed there.
I left out the 6 big cattle troughs and bathtubs I have stuck on top of that deck/stairway at the far North edge of the property. They have bamboo in them to screen out a neighbor. I fill up the planters every week or two and have a hose system setup for them. But I'd like a better way to ensure the right amount of fill. Right now, the ones higher up or closer to the inlet for the hoses are getting the most water. Others, further away don't get enough and I have to supplement them.
So the lawn & berm need water too - 2x/week. I'm not clear on how much water is needed in other areas.
I think I will try to run things on top of the ground this (remaining) year, like the stuff over by the deck/stairway. Then I can just connect a hose there and do 3 beds at once.
Next year I can dig trenches and dig under walkways, burrow under the rock wall, etc., and maybe add automatic controls.
I found this:
http://www.rainbird.com/documents/diy/HomeownerDesignRequestForm_EN_RevJAN2012.pdf
I just don't understand the $2,500 much less the $6,000.
In summer, Oregon can be hot and dry (up to 100 oF) and no rain for 2-3 months. Worse, the climate is changing and we will be similar to what the area around Suckramento is now in some years (that latter area will become like LA).