Landscapes & Gardens
See a City Hacienda Succulent Garden
Bright colors inspired by Mexican tile and Talavera pottery enhance an urban succulent oasis with a hacienda theme. See how owners have utilized minimal space, created inviting and practical living areas, muffled neighborhood noise, and maximized their privacy.
Read MoreShould You Use Weed Barrier Fabric?
No doubt you’ve seen black fabric laid over bare soil with holes cut out for plants. But how important is it to use weed barrier fabric, really? What are the do’s and don’ts?
Read MoreDid Succulents Protect These Homes from Wildfires?
Southern CA homeowners in Rancho Santa Fe and Bonsall say succulents protected their homes during two different wildfires. In each case, nearby homes burned to the ground.
Read MoreThree Problem-Solving Palos Verdes Succulent Gardens
I show you three very different gardens in Los Angeles on the Palos Verdes Peninsula: slope, patio and streetside. Each showcases beautiful, problem-solving ways to display and enjoy succulents.
Read MoreSee a Seven-Room Succulent Garden I Love
This standard-sized back yard has 7 outdoor living areas: spa, bar/barbecue, dining, fireplace, vegetable garden, bonsai/mosaic garden, and fountain/aeonium garden. There are even more if you count…
Read MoreSucculent Slope Before & After
See a problem-solving, terraced succulent garden landscaped on a budget. Challenges include hillside erosion, large area, and steep grade. Before-and-after photos, video and plant gallery.
Read MoreSee a Succulent Collectors’ Garden Renovation
The layout is still good, but a lot of plant material needed to be removed to reveal or to salvage large, mature specimens worth showcasing.
Read MoreCarolyn’s Dragon Tree Garden, Before-and-After
See a colorful, professionally done garden of low-water, regionally appropriate succulents, some unusual, many large, and all thriving today, seven years after installation. Includes designer tips, specs and gallery of 40+ plants.
Read More15 Thrifty Tips for Low-Water Landscapes
My 15 simple, economical fixes for a 2-1/2 acre Santa Barbara wedding venue emphasize succulents and apply to any low-water, mild-climate landscape.
Read MoreLaguna Beach Succulent Gardens
On the Laguna Beach Garden Tour I go hunting for succulents. Nearly all varieties thrive in Laguna’s mild coastal climate. But what gets me every time are the flowering annuals and perennials that snuggle up to the succulents.
Read MoreSee a Succulent Tidepool Terrace
A terrace adjacent to an outdoor sitting area is perfect for a colorful, easy-care succulent garden. This one, in Laguna Beach, CA suggests a tidepool. When you visually immerse yourself in it, you might as well be snorkeling.
Read MoreA Dozen Beginners’ Succulent Landscape Mistakes
As a succulent garden consultant, I often see these dozen common landscaping mistakes made by well-intended homeowners. Correcting them makes a big difference aesthetically. Do any apply to you? If not, applause!
Read More