Agave: Architectural masterpieces!

In desert landscapes, few plants are more stunning than agave in all their various forms.

Agave Americana will make a dramatic statement anywhere

Agave Parryi is a compact favorite, but watch out for those spines!

Agave Blue Glow is my favorite, with each leaf outlined in deep magenta

Japanese Fusion Entry

A fountain provides a soothing welcome.  Juniper and sedum enhance the dry stream bed suggesting water flowing from the mountains (taller rocks).  The "reclining ox" rock (center right)

invites one to sit and meditate.

Hardscape

Rocks and pebbles enhance any garden.

Japanese Fusion Garden

scale of plants overshadow house

Finer scale and open plan enhance the architecture

To update overgrown planters, we created a small scale Japanese garden using desert and drought tolerant plants, a departure from the expected.  While incorporating classic traditional elements such as a weeping maple, quince contorta and juniper procumbens adjacent to the entry, the remainder of the plants originate in Mediterranean or desert climates.  As all are drip irrigated, each receives the water it needs with no water lost to evapotransperation.

Southwest Desert in Santa Monica

Client wanted a desert garden to complete their newly remodeled Spanish bungalow.  This is the ultimate water conserving garden for Southern California.