Garden Galleries

Property corners often prove to be difficult to maintain because of their proximity to radiational heat from sidewalks, curbs and streets. Instead of turf grass, install a large bed full of native and adapted plants that will thrive in heat and drought.

Do you think this bed can handle the heat? Absolutely! A stunning mix of various cacti, agave, chrysanthemums, verbenas and other xeric beauties prove that desert plants aren’t just easy to care for but gorgeous as well.

For a cleaner look, a formal hedge works well to define a bed’s borders. These boxwoods will be easy to trim and easy to keep from invading this frequently used walkway.

Use soft-textured, low-growing groundcovers such as this lush clover fern to easily transition from cold, hard sidewalks to shady perennial beds.

Warm season superstars, such as this batfaced cuphea, are fitting for areas such as along sidewalks and bed borders. Their low-growing and cascading habits soften edges and give this bed a gentle appearance.

This xeric bed is easy on the eyes as it starts with smaller plants and graduates to taller and taller choices. The contrasting colors and textures make it especially attractive.

Don't you love the great textures in this xeric bed? Wispy Mexican feather grass intermingled with the darker green leaves of columbine really set it up for success. Great bed design always includes a well-balanced mixture of textures, colors and sizes.

Slopes are often hard to manage, and hard to landscape. But many of our natives handle it just fine. Mixed with some bright limestone and a few other punches of color, this one is exquisite.

Are you challenged by shade? Don’t know what to plant? Check out this inspirational mix of shade-loving flora including Aztec grass, coleus, Japanese aralia and ferns.

What a great example of a narrow space made into a beautiful place. Here, creeping 'New Gold' lantana and feathery muhly grass precede an attractive, evergreen backdrop of crossvine.

Plant drought-tolerant New Gold (sterile) lantana in your landscape and wait for the butterflies to appear in droves. Due to the invasive qualities of other non-sterile varities, we no longer recommend them.

Attractive beds don’t necessarily need a wide variety of plant types. This simple design of Mexican feather grass is almost mesmerizing as the feathery tufts sway in the breeze.

This bright xeric garden exemplifies a thoughtful design with cheery, low- growing portulacas along the border, saying to anyone who walks by: Here begins a beautiful summertime bed.