In Southern California we get very little rainfall. The rainfall that we do get usually is piped from the roof and landscape into the street where it ends up taking the oils, pesticides, and other chemicals straight into the ocean. A house like this can capture 10,000+ gallons of rain water,...

This front yard used to be all cool season turf, which requires 50" of water a year, an expensive proposition in Southern California. Since the yard was made up of a flat space and a sloped space, it made sense to divide it into a "public" and "private" space. The low wall is an attractive...

A thick layer of mulch keeps the soil cool, prevents weeds, eliminates evaporation of the drip irrigation water underneath, and feeds the soil.

Before this front yard makeover, there was no entryway to the front door. A permeable flagstone walkway was added with Dymondia planted in between the stones. This is 6 months after installation.

The more private space has colorful drought tolerant Australian plantings with a path to the side gate. In a few years the variegated Furcrea and Pineapple Guava will provide height and will anchor the garden.

Another view of this corner lot.

A flagstone walkway allows one to meander through the garden to the side gate.

The sloping portion of the yard was planted with low growing drought tolerant shrubs that need no pruning. This is a few weeks after installation.