2020 Contest Winner

Homeowner	Laura L
Location	Encinitas
Yard	Front & Side

Project

Encinitas resident Laura L’s colorful landscape features a variety of native and low-water-use plants. After purchasing the home, she decided to remove the existing grass and replace it with a functional landscape that serves many purposes, including creating habitat for pollinators and local wildlife, providing fruit for her family, and enhancing the beauty of the neighborhood.

Inspired by the diversity of San Diego County’s ecosystems, her design divided the garden into multiple interest points and color schemes to highlight different plant collections and break up any monotony for those passing by. Laura constructed the attractive, dry-stacked retaining wall herself – a real labor of love. The landscape utilizes drip irrigation and onsite rainwater collection, further reducing outdoor water use.

Plants Used

Chondropetalum tectorum ‘Cape Rush’, Leucadenrom Protea ‘Pom Pom’, Helichryssum ‘Petit Licorice’, Verbena Lilac Verbena Lilacina, Abutilon palmeri ‘Indian Mallow’, Diplacus parviflorus Island Bush Monkey, Acacia cultriformis ‘Knife Leaf Acacia’, Arctostaphylos La Panza Grey Manzanita’, Arctostaphylos ‘John Dourley’, Cistus x skangergii ‘Pink Rockrose’, Grevillea ‘Mount Tabhoritha’, Mexican Weeping Bamboo, Eremophila glabra ‘Grey Horizon’, Eremophila hygrophana ‘Blue Bells Emu Bush’, Hebe Shrubs, Butterfly Bush, California Poppies, Agaves, Succulents, Sages, Lavender, Olive Tree, Aloes