Park Avenue Front Yard
My friends up the street live here. Before I met them, I remember seeing their grass getting ripped out. In went an olive tree, some decomposed granite, eight sad bunch grasses and two rows of overly-prickly succulents that would stab you in the leg once they reached their mature size. I was disappointed.
A year later, we were introduced and they saw my front and back yard. In December of 2022 we ripped out the decomposed granite, the six sad bunchgrasses (a few didn’t make it), and all of the prickly succulents. They were still prickly. Eight months in, their yard is full of color and life. Monarchs lay eggs on the milkweed, hummingbirds sip nectar from the white sage, and bees hum in the buckwheat. I am elated with the yards beauty.
After Planting: The west side receives the most sunlight. Hummingbird Fuschia, Pozo Blue Sage, and Baby Bear Manzanita bring color and structure to this hot section of earth.
Before planting. A sad pair of trees and a smattering of bunch grasses eke out survival in a hot swath of decomposed granite.
After Planting: Canyon Prince Wild Rye makes an excellent contrast against the deep blue of the clients home. Milkweed is scattered around the sidewalk and driveway, providing an opportunity to see Monarch caterpillars up close
Before planting. The walkways were lined with prickly succulents that, once they reached their full size, provided a painful welcome home.
After Planting: Wider, the clients opted to keep the olive tree out of respect to its age and potential to provide shade. The understory has been planted with bunchgrasses, white sage, penstemons and mallows to bring color from spring to late summer.
After Planting: Colorful buckwheats adorn the walk up. As the summer drags on they'll turn to a rust color, contrasting with the light brown hues of the roof and fencing.
After Planting: Walk up to the front yard, flanked by Canyon Prince Wild Rye, buckwheats, and fragrant white sage.
After Planting: More bunchgrasses along the driveway path to break up an endlessly hot stucco wall. It's form complements the structure of the concrete and contrasts nicely with the beach pebbles.
After Planting: More buckwheats in all their splendor, as viewed from the front door.
After Planting: Verbenas line a shadier spot towards the back of the front yard. Baby Bear Manzanita, left, will grow to roughly six or eight feed and provide winter interest with their blooms, along with year long interest with its red bark and bright green leaves.
After Planting: Even more red buckwheat.
After Planting: Fragrant Pozo Blue Sage invites you to stop and smell it as you walk up the sidewalk after work.
After Planting: California Fuschia provides a late summer pop of color, and provides nectar to hummingbirds during a time when most flowers are done for the season.