This silvery meadow replaced a high water-using lawn in Santa Barbara's hot foothills. The owners wished to keep the open space where the lawn resided, but preferred the diverse palette that a mixed meadow brings.

A small flagstone sitting terrace was set out below the house to enjoy views of the garden and the majestic mountains to the north. The "base coat" of the meadow is planted with Carex flacca 'Blue Zinger' then peppered with free-flowing clusters of Euphorbia 'Copton Ash', snow in summer, blue fescue and white flowering yarrow.