In early 2009, the homeowners decided to kill their front lawn and started to plan their drought tolerant landscape. The main inspiration was the high cost of watering the grass.
Later that spring, they went on the Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase and met Deni Friese. They were so happy with what she had done with their front yard that the following year they had her redesign the back yard. The front yard is California natives and drought tolerant plants with crushed rock/gravel. There is a lovely dry stream bed meandering through the garden. A variety of curvilinear shapes soften the hardness of the rocks. Plants include flaxes, day lilies, succulents, California natives and sea lavender. A shade garden nestled under the neighbor’s Jacaranda tree includes a tea tree, a variegated maple and other interesting plants.
Automated drip irrigation is used once weekly during the summer and hand watering as necessary during the winter has greatly reduced water consumption. Like many environmentalists, they recycle some household items for garden use, such as milk jugs, plastic bottles, etc.
