I think the best place for you to get ideas is likely your local nursery, where they will only have plants that do grow well in your area, and where you can study plant tags and ask questions (at least, if go to a real nursery you can ask questions, not so much at the big boxes). You are really asking a plant selection question, not so much layout and land use, which might be more the issues that fit with landscaping. We are more likely to discuss, for example, the best width/design/location for your walkway and landing pad than we are to suggest plants to accompany one that has already been laid. KarinL

Hi everyone, Thank you all SO much for the suggestions. I was getting to the point where analysis paralysis was getting the better of me. So armed with your suggestions and some loose idea of what I *may* want, I got my butt to Home Depot and just picked some things to get myself started... otherwise I was probably going to sit here "planning" and never get anything planted. I took the advice some of you had and reshaped the brick edging. It helped detract attention from the crooked line of boxwood and made it a little more interesting. I planted two perennial daisies in front of the rose bush on the one side with some little annual moss roses. On the other side, I planted a mountain laurel. I don't know what I'm going to do with the other few annual moss roses, and I don't know what I'll put to fill in the gap between the mountain laurel and the rose bush. I was thinking maybe two more mountain laurels and be done with it. So exciting to be crowd-sourcing ideas on this project!

If you plan on doing "major landscaping" within the year, then I probably wouldn't bother with the expense and effort to do a quick cosmetic fix. Without a functioning irrigation system, you will need to be out there on a routine basis. And lacking that, any plantings will struggle and fail. In the meantime, find a garden designer experienced with 'California Friendly' (aka drought tolerant/water-wise and fire resistant) landscape design and plant selection. Once a well-conceived design plan has been formulated - and that can take some time - then you can focus on amending and repairing the irrigation to match. And in your climate, an earlier season planting (like spring) is more desirable than waiting until summer or even fall. Winter works well, too. If you are unfamiliar with the plants suited to your area, a good designer is invaluable with both plant selection and placement. And you can do the installation work yourself to save money.

I think will take some combination of paint — because, what’s up with all the white—and landscaping. The house facade is towering and mostly flat so it’s like a butte rising from the desert. I like some aspects of DigDoug’s mock-up in that he created a sort of courtyard, extending plantings out from the house , so you approach the mountain through the foothills. Not sure I would do any vertical plants by columns as want to cut down in the vertical , but I see how something there also can break up the height. The current walkway may be too close to the house for house size— can’t tell how much front yard you have. The house mass can take large vertical plant forms, trees, but not close by or blocking windows. Ideally many feet out sorta diagonally from with the corners. Nearer the house , can handle “ chunky” shrubs for bulk but again, below windows. I would not be able to design and install the type of plan needed here, which I think includes hardscape and plantings. Nor likely a typical nursery- landscaper ( I’ve had bad experiences, so may be biased). Ideally you’d find someone to create the design and maybe be able to offer a couple different versions of wow vs. more modest to save money ( not totally different concepts, but different materials options , sizes of installed plants, more spendy cultivars or complex plantings vs more common) , and who can design “ phases” of implementation. A professional who really understands what things will look like , growth & mature sizes. I’m afraid this will take the infamous “ healthy budget” but I think it’s worth budgeting for some upfront consulting/ design time.