I don't hate the design you posted. I'd like to know what about it is still bothering you. I can see some things I don't care for but I am not a professional. As far as plants go there are some plants that do not look desert/dry. I also live in California.

Stepping stones look charming but I only like them in areas that I would use around once a month. If you walk there daily I'd prefer a solid path.

Did you discuss with the designer the succulents you love from before?

I hope one of the professionals will wander by soon.

The plan layout does not look bad to me however there is no labeling of any plant material (also many of the features) so cannot comment on what the "finished" look may be.

And I would also add that encouraging the visitation of the local bunny population and attempting a container vegetable/edible garden may be counterproductive :-) Unless the containers are tall enough to prevent Peter and his cronies from jumping in for lunch.

I agree with Callirhoe, I can't visualize the design with all the junk in the way.

I know you like the lawn idea, but... how are you going to take care of it? First of all, how are you going to mow it? It's such a small area -- are you getting a mower just for that? Second, it's going to require LOTS of water to keep alive during draught. Are you in an area with water restrictions? Depending on your climate, you may have to plant some warm-season grass for the summer, and then overplant it every fall with cool-season grass (unless you're OK with a brown lawn for the winter). Lots to think about.

It looks like you still have some beautiful and happy agaves there. I think you should continue with that theme -- agaves, yuccas, aloes, cactus, dwarf palms, fruit trees (figs, pomegranate, citrus, apricot).

If you like perennial borders, you can mix short ornamental grasses with different sages, lantanas, gaura, verbena, etc. Water-wise gardens can be surprisingly green and luscious, and more rewarding to grow, so I'm glad you want to go that way.

Also, make sure the design takes into account how you are going to water your plants, especially if you have fruit trees. They will need frequent and deep watering, so have a source of water nearby, install drip hoses if you don't want to do it manually, etc. But a professional design should include that.

Thanks all! Appreciate the input.

Sorry, I should have said I'm mainly looking for thoughts on layout and flow right now (I'll definitely ask again later about plant selection and the rest!).

Re the lawn, originally we asked for a little plot of grass mainly for future sales potential (we are pondering selling in the next year and we live in the main "family" area in our town, so requisite bit of green lawn there).

But I told the designer last night to nix the lawn and replace with more native plants. I am thinking of just a very small strip of lawn between patio and the soft seating (sofa) area. I'd love that first pop of green when I look out from our kitchen/dining area (echoed by the green vines on the back fence). I was inspired by our neighbors' strip of green grass that breaks up their pavers and gravel. Here's a photo:

But the more I think about it, the more it makes sense to take my smart son's advice and go with whatever grasses our local cottontails eat in the wild. A mini meadow of bunny-loving greens. :)

And yes, @gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9), those containers will definitely be raised out of bunnies' reach or covered with mesh. My college student son was part of a large garden lab for a few years and had lots of experience with (gentle) rabbit control. :)

Regarding the clutter, yep, there's a lot of it! We've been using most of it for growing stuff, and will likely be using a good bit of it for our growing areas on the right side of the yard.

If you are thinking of selling, you should definitely skip the fruit trees. It's an investment that you will not profit from. And future buyers who don't like gardening may think they are "messy."

Thanks @JoJo (Nevada 9A). We are just thinking of three small starter trees (avocado, fig and pomegranate—no citrus per current University of California's guidelines to help eradicate the Asian citrus psyllid).

I have no problem at all your yard sans clutter. :)

One thing that's missing from the drawings, and that I can't tell from your photos, is which direction is south. That's pretty critical to deciding what's a good area for seating. Where are you going to want to be at 4:00 pm? Will it be too hot there? I'm thinking of your "soft seating" smack in the middle of the yard. To me that placement is a disruption of flow, and I would not want to look out my kitchen window through a pair of yard-sofas, even if what I was looking at was a fountain. (You're going to lose a lot of water to evaporation with that, btw.)

There's a certain restfulness to a pool of grass, as you already noted. I'm not sure you should give up your original idea about that. For grass that doesn't have to be mowed, check out offerings from High Country Gardens in CO: highcountrygardens.com. They also do a lot with xeriscaping options, including with regard to grasses. Also an electric mower is an excellent alternative for small yards. Quiet, clean, lightweight, and practically no maintenance. If/when my gas mower dies I'm definitely getting one, in spite of all the tree obstacles in my yard.

If you want a BBQ I'd suggest putting it somewhere more easily and quickly accessed from the kitchen, than the far left corner. When I grill stuff there are numerous trips in and out from the kitchen. There's always some sauce or seasoning I didn't bring, or different foods that have to be started at different times, or else I'm just running back in for another glass of wine (slurp) or whatever. For me, a BBQ has to be as close to the patio door as I can get it. Also, I would never build it in (don't know if that's what's suggested) in case you decide it needs to be somewhere different.

Fire pits are charming when you're entertaining. There are lots of options these days. If I lived where they were highly regulated (as they *should* be, where you live) I'd get one of those gas-powered ones with the wide margins (for people to set their glasses down). They have the charm of real flame, though not from burning wood, and without the danger; plus there's the convenience of not having to actually start the fire and keep it going: always hard where I live, we get a fair amount of rain, and the days when I want a fire are always right after it's been cold and wet. And if you're looking for a fairly clean and tidy appearance, they fit the bill. (My own fire pit is a circle of stones dug out of our rocky-sandy subsoil, around a sand pit in the middle of a large DIY 6x6 landscape-timber-defined octagon. Extremely low budget, but cozy when surrounded by my plantings; and it takes me back to the campfires of my childhood.)

I'm not sure I'd divide your back yard into three distinct spaces. It seems to be asking a lot of it, like it might be too "busy." My own back yard is of similar proportions, 85' x 30' (mine is deeper), and if I did that, each area would feel cramped. Mine is not really divided at all but has the feeling of having two main areas softly defined by the shade of trees: one side is more grassy and sunny; and the other where there are plant beds that encompass tree bases (so I don't have to mow around them, ugh), as well as the fire pit area. This second area is all in the shade of mature trees but the canopy is high enough so that it's never dark there, while one can still retreat from the blast of the sun. Neither area feels like I'm asking too much of it. Plus the open area is where my grandson likes to run off a lot of energy. Kids need space to MOVE, and if you're thinking of selling soon, that might be worth keeping in mind. (Back to the grass idea: parents love grass.)

Maybe figure out a way to blend your soft seating and left-yard wishes into one more subtly set off area.

I would suggest using something other than a fountain as a focal point from the kitchen area: a small tree, or a planter of tropicals, a statue, a bench with colorful planters on either side (I'd find this an inviting prospect from the kitchen, more so than a fountain), or some other piece of art. Fountains require regular maintenance (chores) and if the pumps fail they can become pools of sludge. It's fine if you're into it! But if you're selling, maybe not. That's a commitment to be made by somebody who's going to stick around, IMO.

I love the fruit tree terrace area idea. :) That steep slope is a challenge, but taking those kinds of challenges and doing something creative with them is what makes a special design. If you only plant a few small things and leave it up to the new owner to change them at will, perhaps to something purely ornamental, it should be fine.

Just my half-assed armchair first-look ideas. If I'd lived there for a year already I'd have a better understanding of the light, the soil, the challenges, the possibilities.

As general guidance, I'd say that out of all the things you've had designed in, you should pick your top two or three priorities and go with those. Make your back yard inviting and interesting, but don't try to put in everything you've ever wished for. Start with simpler, and let future owners - or yourselves, if you decide to stay after all - make future modifications.

Joan

P.S. If you need a seating area and where you want to put it is too sunny/hot, consider a pergola. Just a thought, last minute. You could also use a pergola to create a little "room" over the left hand corner, with a gas fire pit under it, and have your soft seating over there around the fire pit. I like it. Transition from there to the grass pool to the right with your succulents etc - I have nothing whatever to say about suggested materials, I just believe it could be done. You could even put an actual shallow bubbling pool over there somewhere - not smack in the middle, would be my advice, maybe you could even have fish in it if you're okay with all the maintenance. Just make it easy for future owners to fill in with grass if they don't want to mess with it. Dreaming on about what it would be like to live in SoCal, from here in MN.

JLC

@Northern Gardener (3b west central MN), OH MY GOSH, Joan! Thanks so much for all that great (not at all half-assed) input! And amazing because just an hour ago, I was telling my husband that I'm not sure I want to look out our kitchen/dining windows to see 1) an outdoor dining table, then 2) soft seating before my eyes finally reach the focal-point fountain. So I was thinking maybe we should move that soft seating to the left side of the yard... and you must have heard me! :)

And thanks so much for the realities of fountain maintenance. Our contractor mentioned something along those lines and I just thought he was hinting that he wouldn't be into fixing it if it failed. Originally we were going to choose a tree (strawberry tree, maybe) for that focal point.

I don't have time to do your reply justice right now, but I want you to know one fun fact: for the past 6-9 months, thanks to wildfires and scalding summers, I have been pushing us to move to....Minnesota! :-D