Garden of the Month Archives

2018

June

This month we feature a front and back yard that have been transformed to be sustainable. The improved back yard features a rain garden. The land was graded so that all rain water runs to the stream and pond. A recirculating pump runs the waterfall when water is present.  Both spaces feature native plants and low water plants. Take a look and check the Shopping List.

 

See June video

May

This month we share a California Native Garden.  Every plant featured in this property is native to California.  California native plants are great for gardens because they’ve acclimated to our climate, they use less water, and they require less maintenance. Explore the Shopping List to learn about the plants featured in this video.

 

See May video

April

This month we feature California Friendly® plants that are perfect for limited space front yards. By selecting California Friendly® plants that have a unique shape or pop of color, you can make a big impact in a defined space. Another way to maximize your confined space is to utilize plants that are dwarf varieties or grow more vertical.

 

See April video

March - Edible Gardens

This month we explore edible gardens. Did you know that you can save water in your vegetable garden by using drip irrigation and mulch? Drip irrigation ensures that you are putting the water exactly where it is needed so no water is going to waste, plus a thick layer of mulch helps the soil cool and keeps water from evaporating. Try both in your garden.

 

See March video

February

This month we show our love for the hills. Instead of a tour through a single property, we share the hillside landscaping at several locations. In the spirit of love, we have highlighted plants that pair well together in each garden. By planting California Friendly® plants on hillsides, you not conserve water but you can prevent erosion as well.

 

See February video

January

This month we are featuring a California Friendly® Meadow Garden. Meadows are comprised of California Friendly® low ground covers, perennials, and medium sized grasses and are perfect for filling larger spaces. Filling landscape areas with groupings of one type of California Friendly® plant creates a sense of rhythm throughout the garden.

 

See January video

2017

December

This California Friendly® front yard echoes traditional Spanish style garden design with a California twist. Vines covering stuccoed walls, a palette of earth tones with pops of color, various varieties of Rosemary - are all reminiscent of traditional Spanish landscapes, while succulents and agave add a more modern California flare. This garden is a perfect display of water saving plants that look great year round.

 

See December video

 

The California Friendly® Garden Guide lists more than 1,500 plants. Find out more about the plants mentioned in the video:

 

Coral Tree

Prostrate Rosemary

New Zealand Flax

Oleander

 

November

By grouping California Friendly® plants in similar arrangements throughout the yard, this California Friendly® garden feels like one cohesive design as you walk from the front to the back of the property. Repeating these design elements throughout your garden brings a clear sense of unity, consistency, and cohesiveness to your backyard retreat.

 

See November video

 

The California Friendly® Garden Guide lists more than 1,500 plants. Find out more about the plants mentioned in the video:

 

African Sumac

Sea Pink Common Thrift

Lavender Cotton

October

This month's garden was designed to help keep rain water on the sloped property. By creating a dry river bed with boulders and gravel and a large basin at the bottom, water collected in rain gutters is directed directly into the stream bed and is absorbed back into the ground. The plants featured in this design are all Mediterranean climate plants that need very little water.

 

See October video

 

The California Friendly® Garden Guide lists more than 1,500 plants. Find out more about the plants mentioned in the video:

 

African Sumac

Sea Pink Common Thrift

Lavender Cotton

 

September

This month we are highlighting a California Friendly® Garden featuring wandering pathways and dry creek beds located in the Inland Empire in Riverside, California. This beautiful garden is home to a variety of California Friendly® plants, stunning walkways, and a winding dry creek bed. California Friendly® Gardens like these are great alternatives to traditional grass lawns because they save water, look beautiful and require less maintenance. Dry creek beds can alleviate drainage problems, add a unique and natural visual to your garden, and help prevent erosion. The garden also features stone pathways which help divide garden spaces within the landscape and provide a great way to admire the garden a little more up close and personal.  Take a look!

 

See September video

 

The California Friendly® Garden Guide lists more than 1,500 plants. Find out more about the plants mentioned in the video:

 

Jerusalem Sage

Grevillea

Heuchera

California Poppy

 

August

A typical front yard with a green lawn is so east coast. A California Friendly® front yard is an opportunity to beautify the neighborhood, add curb appeal, and save money and water. If you aren’t using a water-guzzling lawn for entertainment or a play space, why not replace it with a beautiful and enhancing feature that will be the talk of the neighborhood? California Friendly® gardens require a fraction of the water and maintenance of a typical lawn and never need toxic chemicals to keep it looking great. Adding a drip irrigation system is the most efficient way to water these types of gardens by ensuring that you only water where it’s needed; the roots. Maintenance required - weeding every other month and a yearly pruning.

 

See August video

 

The California Friendly® Garden Guide lists more than 1,500 plants. Find out more about the plants mentioned in the video:

 

Palo Verde

Red Sage

Rock Purslane

July

This month’s theme is Mediterranean Style Garden. Mediterranean climates are the rarest and mildest on the planet. Our climate in Southern California features wet winters and dry falls, springs and summers. Our Mediterranean Garden is located in Pacific Palisades and is designed by Stephanie Blanc.

 

The garden features multiple garden rooms with permeable surfaces. These surfaces enable rain and irrigation water to percolate into the soil and prevent run-off. Run-off from residential properties tend to carry pollutants and when concentrated in storm drains this creates serious problems for the watershed. When the water stays on the soil it naturally purifies the water as it descends into the aquifer.

 

See July video

 

The California Friendly® Garden Guide lists more than 1,500 plants. Find out more about the plants mentioned in the video:

 

Aloe Vera

Yucca

Kangaroo Paws

Echeveria

Grevillea

 

June

This month’s theme is California Friendly ™Native Gardens.  We thought it was the right place to start - in our own backyard so to speak.  This garden is located in Encinitas California in North San Diego County. The garden features a no-lawn front yard full of mature Manzanita’s and Yarrow.  The backyard is a serene meadow of wildflowers with a path meandering to a seating area.  A beautiful deck overlooks the meadow from the home and is adorned with California Wild Grape. Birds, butterflies, and neighbors love this garden and visit often.

 

See June video

 

The California Friendly® Garden Guide lists more than 1,500 plants. Find out more about the plants mentioned in the video:

 

California Poppy, Golden Poppy

Chalk Dudleya, Chalk Liveforever

Coast Sunflower, Coast Encelia

Conejo or Saffron Buckwheat

Ray Hartman California Lilac

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California Friendly® registered trademark of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Many of the flower and garden images are courtesy of the Theodore Payne Foundation.