You haven't given a photo that shows your yard. I can't see half the column area because there is a car parked in front of it. Please take a photo of the entire front of your yard with no obstructions.

What is it you were trying to do with your planting? I understand having a flower bed that forces people to take the walkway. People will always take a shortcut.

I personally don’t care for the little brick columns with big lantern lights. My first thought was to get rid of them entirely, or at least the lights, and if you keep the columns, you need a low brick wall or plantings flanking the columns.

Love Mrs. S' advice for drought tolerant plants, but remember that the first year after planting you will need to regularly water even drought tolerant plants. You could remove and replace only those plants that haven't done well or that you don't really like.

Here are some more photos. I think I just want to figure out how to edge these beds and how to swap out the plantings for something less scraggly and what my mom would call "higgledy piggledy." I'm having such a hard time finding inspiration photos! Any advice welcome.

this is the front.

Where we are in California, you may not have much choice BUT to choose drought tolerant plants. We are about to be asked to conserve 20% more (or has that happened already?), and that is after years of asking/forcing reductions in water usage.

Anyway, as for plant choices, I or anyone could suggest a bunch of plants, but you still seem unclear about the general idea for your yard. Professionally done yards often have a bit of a theme (not obvious unless you've put some thought into it!) of perhaps tropical (on its way out, due to water measures), succulent/desert theme (can be done well or or look hideous, but in any event, wouldn't coordinate well with traditional brick--but that's my humble non-professional opinion), or mediterranean.

Without guidelines, I'm going to suggest that you use some of what we used. At least you can look these up:

For hedge or EASY care shade/sun always looks great dark green shrub that sprouts pretty white flowers all over, try Raphiolepis umbellata minor. Also, easy to trim into whatever shape you like.

For some hardy blue=ish or purple easy-care shrub that smells fantastic, try some of the many different types of rosemary. For example, there's a common type around SoCal called Huntington's carpet. It is easy care, drought tolerant, and spreads out without getting over about 8" high. That can fill in some space for you.

For more color, try osteospermum (African Daisies) commonly seen in purple and white everywhere around SoCal.... or.... geraniums which come in so many shades and grow fast and are pretty easy.

I don't think Houzz's photo loading is working. Anyway, google what you need, or better yet, go drive around and see what other folks use who have great looking front yards.

thank you so much for the suggestions! I love the idea of drought tolerant plants as I am keen to conserve water as well. Azaleas seem to do well in our yard, and the plantings alongside the front of our house are mostly azaleas. Hoping to coordinate in these front beds but not just blindly repeat what we already have.

I'm frustrated that the photo uploads don't seem to be working. Maybe these will post?

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