2024 Contest Winner

Homeowner	Bryan and Catherine B.
Location	La Mesa
Yard	Front

Project

Helix Water District has named Bryan and Catherine B. of La Mesa the winner of its 2024 WaterSmart Landscape Contest.
Catherine and her husband Bryan have transformed their front yard from an outdated and drab landscape to a lush and colorful paradise boasting beauty and curb appeal.

The garden is set back behind a small curtain of hedges and fruit trees and is a welcomed sight for visitors traveling down the home’s driveway. The garden boasts a lush mix of flowering plants and greens that complement the colors of their home and the taller surrounding plants. Catherine, who works as a Hospital Laboratory Scientist, has always used gardening as her creative outlet to balance her analytical side.

Besides the colors, one of the most beautiful things about Catherine’s work in their new landscape is her design. She incorporates drifts, which are harmonious groupings of the same plants, to create flowing, cohesive sections of color. By layering these drifts, she adds depth and creates a relaxed feel to the garden. She also has strategically placed specimen plants to create focal points and used taller plants to screen out less appealing views.

To water efficiently, the couple has since retrofitted the fruit trees with pressure-compensating drip irrigation and used new drip lines for everything else. Additionally, downspouts direct rainwater into the front planter and the couple has plans for more rainwater collection

Plants Used

Rock rose, Foxtail agave, Purple leaf plum tree, fruit trees – citrus, pineapple guava, various colored succulents, Peruvian Lilly, Mexican feather grass, Gold coin daisy, Santa Barbara Daisy, Leucadendron Gold strike, Coastal gem grevillia, Pink Muhly grass, Pride of Madeira, Yarrow