As a Certified Wildlife Habitat with the National Wildlife Foundation, this spectacular landscape is bursting with life. Low-growing CA native plants are an important food source and habitat for pollinators and make wildlife watching easy from any view point! The bird bath provides a vital source of water, while the grasses create a meadow-like atmosphere.

Interested in using water efficiently and offering habitat value, this homeowner transformed the front yard from turf to a native haven. A permeable pathway was also installed to provide a designated entryway and better functionality. Packed with CA native plants and a swale, this landscape proves just how much you can do with a small space!

This front yard reminds us that our landscapes are so much more than just open spaces - they can be fun and creative too! Take some time to admire all of the whimsy this landscape has to offer. Keep an eye out for hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies which will no doubt be attracted to all of the colorful flowers!

Looking for a sustainable, long-term solution, this homeowner used the SMWD Landscape Kit Rebate to transform this front yard from patches of turf and dirt to a holistic ecosystem. The swale captures rain water and keeps runoff and harmful pollutants from our waterways, while the CA native plants provide colorful aesthetics and year-round habitat.

Do you share your front yard with a neighbor? Here is a great example of how to blend your landscapes together while keeping your own personal touches intact! This homeowner added a decomposed granite walkway to make the landscape accessible and interactive, and added a permeable patio for a welcoming entry and seating area.

This homeowner’s passion for sustainability brought this landscape to life! Permeability throughout builds healthy, living soil and allows water to soak into the landscape. These two important dynamics create the foundation for a thriving landscape such as this - even during the hottest days of summer. Be sure to check out the rain chain too!

Only 7 months old, this landscape is already flourishing with color. The downspout from the roof is directed straight into the swale, allowing for maximum rain water capture and minimal runoff. The great diversity of CA natives will provide a habitat for local wildlife year-round. A bench gives the homeowners the opportunity to stop and enjoy this beauty!

Looking to establish a sense of place in their landscape, these homeowners chose to use CA native plants to replace their once water-thirsty lawn. This well-established landscape features medium to large sized CA natives that are frequented by swallowtail butterflies, bumble bees, and hummingbirds. In full bloom, this landscape is stunning!

A once turf-dominated landscape with a dark, narrow entryway, this landscape is now an airy and pleasant space to unwind and enjoy the outdoors. CA native plants contribute to this relaxed and natural atmosphere, along with the calming sounds of the water fountain. Be sure to ask the homeowner about the visitors that frequent this fountain!

Enthusiastic about the watershed approach and ready to get rid of the turf, these homeowners found the SMWD Landscape Kit Rebate to be a perfect solution. This landscape is still quite young at only 6 months old, but the rain water captured by the swale this past winter will help this landscape get established in no time!

This dynamic and colorful landscape features a variety of low water use and CA native plants. The rain chain slows water flowing from the roof and directs it through the swale system where it can infiltrate into the soil. Bright yellow Sundrops (Calylophus berlandieri) line the walkway for a cheerful entrance.

Lacking a proper entryway and with expansive areas of turf throughout their property, these homeowners were ready for a change. This landscape has permeable walkways with flagstone and decomposed granite, rain barrels, and CA native plants. The silvery-gray mounds of Catalina Silverlace (Eriophyllum ‘Canyon Silver’) add color and interest all year!

Low maintenance and an updated look were the priorities for this homeowner’s landscape. To achieve this, modern block stepping stones with Silver Carpet groundcover were chosen as the pathway. The plants require little water and maintenance, yet pop with color. Different heights of plants add interest to this small front yard area year-round.

Interested in a quick nature walk? Wander down this landscape’s decomposed granite path to take in the sweet smell of the sages and brilliantly colored CA natives. Our native Dudleyas are the fun, succulent accents brightening up the shade of the Palo Verde tree. Organic, fine-grained mulch keeps this landscape at its healthiest!

Ready to give their Japanese style landscape a modern twist, these residents used large, straight walking planks to contrast with the curving walkways and round stones. The varying colors of gravel and different types of edging add tons of interest. Giant Flax provide height to an otherwise low-growing landscape – not to mention a dramatic flare!

Reata Park & Event Center is a shining example of our state’s beautiful, native landscape. One of the largest and most extensive CA native plant gardens in the state, Reata Park was designed by CA native plant specialist and Tree of Life Nursery owner, Mike Evans. The park is divided into multiple demonstration gardens complete with plant ID signs, and is literally bursting with color. Join Goin’ Native Therapeutic Gardens for a free interpretive walk of the site and other great seminars and activities.