Congratulations on the house. It looks like you have put a lot of thought into your plans. Although you make reference to "the limitations of the climate" you don't specify your USDA or Sunset zone, which would be helpful information. I take it you mean hot and dry?

There is a lot going on, and I could be wrong, but the way it is arranged makes it feel a bit crowded. Just a couple of observations, please feel free to accept or reject --
--Ordinarily orchards don't have sod. Citrus, for example, don't like to have grass under them.
--Your flower bed, if I understand your diagram correctly, is on the north side of your south wall. This area will be shaded except in summer when the sun is high in the sky, so it is not "full sun".
--I'm not sure I'd want a fire pit directly in the path of my doorway. Say you're carrying a tray of food out to the gazebo, you'd have to skirt around the fire pit. I'd shift it to one side or the other. Which way does the prevailing breeze blow? Hopefully, not into the sliding doorway.
--The grey area is mulch? That's a lot of mulch. Maybe this is practical for your climate.
--Personally, although I like your plan, I would turn the gazebo 90 degrees and move it toward the west wall so the neighbor will see the roof of the gazebo, and not much else, while still leaving a comfortable space between gazebo and wall. I'd put the raised bed of sod in the center where you show the gazebo (but leave the orchard where it is), and I'd move the bench/water feature/meyer lemon to the center of the south wall. And I'd skip the hedges altogether.

But that's just me...

How does one determine the prevailling winds?--In any region?

I think it's either sunset zone 19/20

Dear Catkim,
Thanks so much for your help! In response to your comments..

*I will definitely tweak the orchard/sod arrangement. That is very good to know.
*The flowerbed is now "Part sun" and will be planted accordingly.
*The fire pit is portable *phew* and we occasionally have a very light coastal breeze if any
*Mulching allows for flexibility more than anything else in regards to adding new beds
*That arrangement sounds lovely! but I have no idea on how to move that meyer lemon tree. o_O It came with the house. I wouldn't mind cutting it down but it would eliminate any shade that we currently have and would I need to dig up the roots?

**Most gladly will nix the hedges

Once again, thank you!

I can only agree with Catkim - there's a lot going on, but no room for views. Moving the seating area to the west would give you two "sight lines" - one from the door, one from the seating area itself.
The location of veggies and fruit trees seems fine, but I'd give each tree more room (read: 2 trees not 4).
Hope the pros will give me some critique on this -
Instead of the gazebo, I'm imagining a pergola all along the west wall, 8-10ft deep, with vines growing on it, trees going through openings in the ceiling. More expensive, I know, and probably would require a paved surface... and maybe you don't like Mediterranean style at all (if you do, I'll go on suggesting a wall fountain directly opposite the door).
Adding link to a picture - not exactly what I mean, but close.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:39978}}

Same situation, different style.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:39979}}

After seeing your neighbor's overview of your yard my first inclination would be to plant some tough, fairly fast-growing trees along your wall. This might also decrease the heat coming off that wall. Most nurseries would be able to advise you if you state your needs.

As for the sod area, I've noticed that most people never really use that area, and it will take a lot of water and care. Just my opinion, you know your needs better.

Rather than having a gazebo, why not develop the deck area more fully to make it really comfortable and inviting and use the area where the gazebo would be for some pretty but carefree plantings? Again, the nursery can advise you. That way you can enjoy all the different areas of your garden from the deck without any obstruction to your sight lines. I'm sorry if I've repeated what others may have already said. It's great that you have walls instead of some rickety fence around your property. That gives you a good basis.

Another thought, would the vegetable garden be better in a more hidden area in a further corner of the property? So often that area doesn't always look terribly attractive. I'd plant some easy-care roses (some of the antique roses are great or modern shrub roses, not hybrid teas) so you can enjoy color and fragrance there.

The best of luck with your plans. I'm sure it will be beautiful.

Ingrid

I would paint those walls, before I did anything.
An accent color, or a complimentary garden color, maybe a brick look or multicolored texture rock look.

I'm not great on selecting paint colors, but I am sure some people on this forum are...

Joepyeweed beat me to it: Definitely paint those block walls...that's the first thing I thought when I saw your photos. I'd probably use the same color as the walls of the house, though that might reflect more light than you want. Vines or something espaliered would break up the expanse of wall.

Painting the walls is a great idea. I'm not sure if your plan calls for a hedge along the west wall, but to maximize space, you could attach trellises to the walls and grow some showy vines up them. Senecio confusus and Pyrostegia venusta come to mind.

Also, keep in mind that roses don't look good year round. They have their best flowering in late spring and early summer, and by fall and wintertime they look scraggly. You could take advantage of your warm climate and grow beautifull, carefree aloes. Some that come to mind are A. Thraskii, A. Polyphylla, A. Arborescens, A. Barberae, A. Marlothii, A. Ferox. You could also plant some other showy succulents to mix into that area: Pachypodium Lamereii, Beaucarnea Recurvata, Agave Attenuata, Agave Desmettiana, Aloe striata...the list goes on and on. A well planned succulent garden can be breathtaking. Succulents come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Here are a couple of pictures i found online:

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Wow, thanks for all the suggestions~ We actually trimmed the lemon tree today so that the deck can now abut the tree without any problems to the pergola/gazebo. Also the deck is now moved towards the west wall as suggested earlier.

Timbu
That second pergola definitely fits my style since it looks easier and simple. I will put the wall fountain on my wish list for next year after we get some money back from paying out the mortgage =).

Ingrid
Thanks for the idea of fast growing trees. We'd like to keep the pergola/gazebo option primarily due to the shade it provides. The hot california sun is quite unforgiving.

Jopyeweed & treelover
Wall painting is now added to the list. Thanks!

Updated plans...

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central_cali369
Hmmm, I really like the last example you show but I've been prickled by yucca one to many times on my hikes where I've developed a certain queasiness to them. =/

That and poison oak.

Before you paint the walls, could I mention the option of assessing their stability? Also, once you paint, you have to repaint, which means getting behind your plants. Honestly, I'd look into tiling or skim coating with coloured concrete, or brick, or whatever other options there are that do not require redoing every few years. Watch your local craigslist or alternative for materials.

As for what to do inside the walls... This business of making a whole plan in great detail is something that I think we homeowners have picked up from the concept of a design consultation. Not that you're not doing a good job of it.

But I am a big fan of using the freedom that you have as an owner to sort of feel your way into the design process from the inside. For example, you have the gazebo. Set it up. Turn it around and move it until you like the placement. Then sit IN the gazebo and think about where your trees should be. Check the sightlines. See where your eyes linger, note what bothers you or interests you.

And even if you don't do it that organically, at least don't feel you have to map out every detail in advance; once you have the broad strokes, you can begin one phase of installation and work out the details from there.

KarinL

hi nedragneerg
that is a pretty large yard for a calif. yard. looks sunny too. i like your second plan much better. you want to be able to sit in the gazebo and look back at the house...or look out of the house and see the gazebo (instead of the neighbor). i like the idea of painting the walls..i think there is a concrete stain you can use that is better than paint (i used to live in ca myself and remember the unforgiving sun). i actually can imagine a really nice spanish style wall fountain on one of those walls, maybe with plantings on either side? good luck kren

Hi Everyone,
Is 3 years too long for an update? I've been using you guys as a resource for so long, I've neglected to update you on our progress. Thank you for the suggestions on placement. If anything the garden has good bones for our needs. I really appreciate this forum for being so helpful.

We've killed plenty of plants and the garden is still a work in progress. Everything except planting the tree next to the meyer lemon tree was done with our own two hands.

Observations for first timers.

**Learn how to properly hammer/shovel/pickaxe
**Having the right tools helps.
**Bribe friends to help by offering free food
**GW and sunset magazine were my primary resources
**If you won't want to spend a lot of money, you will do everything the hard way (there's good reason landscape designers and gardeners are paid) and it will take time.
**Water your plants in the summer even if the label says very-Xeric if you want them to live.

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Our gazebo cover is currently being patched because a feral cat walked up the roof and fell through. We have tiny claw mark holes and huge tear near the top!