Hi, and welcome to the GW forums. These are cool plans. I confess to have not grown them for a long while. There are so many hybrids being offered for sale now, and the various favored temperatures I have forgotten. They like plenty of humidity, and not too hot or cold. If you have a sweet little humid micro-climate they are easier. Hot, dry Santa Ana zones are more of a challenge. Most don't want to drop below about 55 degrees; nor do they like it too warm. I moved on to orchids, which were much easier to keep happy. ;) But I hope you share some photos of your plants and let us know how they do. I do live closer to the coast now, and I have one spot where they might be happy. Maybe I'll pick one up to try again...

http://www.pitcherplant.com/care_sheets/nepenthes_care.html

Wow, I guess I better check my local laws. The concept that city government or a disgruntled neighbor can stop you from taking down or trimming trees on your own property is unbelievable to me. That's all we need, tree police. "Sir, did anyone tell you that certain varieties of holly sustain rare insect life and that by trimming that holly at the wrong time of year, you might have caused destruction of a colony of the super special and rare AB12 variety of Hungarian beetle? This beetle is a food source for the local box turtle population so in effect, you've now put at risk the ability for the mature turtles to feed their young. Yada, yada, yada." Give me a break. "But Officer Evergreen, the holly was rubbing against my siding and causing damage to my house." "Sorry Sir, that's no excuse and that'll be $1500.00." Don't anyone report this SF guy to Al Gore. Next thing you know, the type of pruning he had done will be the reason for global warming.

You failed to mention if you like or dislike doing maintenance work to the garden. How much time do you want to spend? You do not mention growing vegetables, does it interest you? Do you like a tropical look? Is there an area to be left open for a pool down the road? What is the tree with the three stakes in your backyard? Will your dogs be in the front yard a lot? Which areas get shade? Will there be more hardscape later? You are in a USDA zone that many of us envy. I would have many Mandevilla if I lived there. I suggest you get some graph paper and draw out a scale map of your plot. Even if you only do the front yard for now, you still need to have a general idea of where things will grow. There are plenty of plant lists online so I suggest you look there. Here are a few plants that do not get supplemental water in my yard. Nandina Podocarpus, dwarf Myrsine africana. I prefer it over Buxus but it is also a low water plant and I have both Coprosma kirkii Oleander Mrs George Roeding Xylosma Myrtus and there is a dwarf form Here are some plants that may need a bit of water Centranthus Saponaria Geranium Biokovo Clumping Oxasis. Never get the non clumping. Viburnum Spring Bouquet Plumbago Trachelospermum jasminoides, can be grown as a ground cover or vine Peleragonium Euryops Pittosporum tobria The reason I share this list is because I miss dark green in many xeriscapes. I am lucky in having semi shade. I think a few of these plants would want more water if grown in full sun. If there are some plants you absolutely need, even though they are thirsty, keep them close to each other. I have a few of them, Fuschia for one for vigilant gardeners only, Muehlenbeckia. Mine is grown as a ground cover and I mow it probably three times per warm season weather. It is in dappled light. I have decided to let it spread as far as it can. Few weeds come up through it. If watered it would be difficult to contain. If I had to choose a favorite it would be the Myrtus. Mine has been pruned into a small tree. Now I am shocked. I have never been so long winded in my life, sorry so long