I recommend succulents and also Calif. Natives. I hired Greg Rubin (see earlier post above) to select Calif. native plants and design a section of my garden (in Vista) what is only going to be natives. He did a great job at a fair price, and the plants went in this April. They're doing great and I water them only once a week. In my front yard I planted a lot of succulents and other low-water Mediterranean climate plants, and they're also doing well on water about once a week. I know that you're probably both hotter and colder than we are here in Vista, but I'm sure you could find great plants for Ramona by doing some research on the web. On August 13 Judy Wigand will be speaking at the free monthly meeting of the San Diego Horticultural Society. Her topic is 'Gardening with a Water-Wise Approach,' and she's an excellent speaker. The meeting is open to the public and everyone is invited; about 300-350 people usually attend each month. Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: San Diego Horticultural Society

I would recommend avoiding Mission Pools at all costs. Our neighbors here in Carmel Valley (3-4 houses) all went with them and all of them have nightmare stories about delayed projects and people not showing up for weeks or a month in one case. I got a bid from them and when I heard the news, I never replied. I would however highly recommend our builder, Mission VALLEY pools. Very reputable and have been in the business for 4 decades. Also, California Pools gave us a bid and they seemed professional but were pricy. I also thought Pacific Sun was excellent and my friend, who is a contractor/spec home builder, uses them in all of his homes. The only reason we went with MV pools in the end is because they were a bit cheaper for what they offered. Click on the link below for our pool build from start to finish! Katherine in Carmel Valley Here is a link that might be useful: Our Pool Build -- San Diego Sunshine

I'll never knock an owner/builder but I wouldn't recommend it to someone considering it. Every year I run quite a few after the construction calls behind OB's. I never fail to ask just how much it ultimately cost them to get to the point where it sits today. Seldomly is it more than a few thousand less than what I'd of built the pool for if I was pressed into serious price negotiation with the potential buyer because I knew I was at risk to losing it to themselves and not another pool builder. The calls I get are usually tile and coping or decking issues. IMO, the only winners are the sub-contractors who charge the homeowner more than the true value of the service. The OB has no leverage with the sub to have him come back to address the knick-knacks. My suggestion is talking to friends and neighbors to find out who had a good experience. Go to the builders office and ask to meet the owner. When you do let him know your intentions of OB'ing. Ask if he'd be interested in working with you directly instead of a commissioned designer/salesperson. This is your first savings. I'd feel pretty sure that you'll find a good guy who'll be willing to work with you. See ya, Kelly

All-in, the whole back yard cost me less than 75k. Budget was 70k, so a little bit over...not much. This was all using top-of-the-line everything too. Didn't skimp on materials, or equipment. Pool builder quotes on the LOW end were 80k, for low-end materials, no waterfall, etc.... All-in, for the top of the line materials like I used, with deck, firepit, bbq island, waterfall, etc... the pool-builder quotes were closer to 120k. So yes - very happy with the outcome. Saved around 45k, or close to 40%. It was a LOT of work, and planning - but it payed off in spades.