It’s Dry Out There: 11 Inspiring water-wise landscapes

Tracey Robinson walks down the walkway of her Westchester home located on a corner lot that features drought-resistant California native plants. More on the garden from 2010 here.

Cheviot Hills resident Randy Bergman ditched her turf in favor of an eclectic mix of low-water succulents and colorful perennials -- further proof that drought-tolerant doesn’t have to mean minimalist plantings of cactus in gravel. Full tour from 2009 here.

Jeffrey and Linda Glaser removed their 3,000 square foot lawn and replaced it with native plants, two raised vegetable beds, a small orchard and rain barrels. Full story here.

An intriguing array of unusual grasses, shrubs and rocks often draws neighborhood children to the Sherman Oaks home of Susan Avallone and Carr D’Angelo, where the kids are welcome to walk the gravel path and study the flora up close. More photos here.

Garden designer Mimi Kahn installed a low-mow festuca rubra (creeping red fescue), at right, in the Brecht House in Santa Monica because the family wanted to avoid unnecessary watering and noisy lawn mowers. “It is a little clumpy and fun,” Kahn says of the grass. “You really only need to mow it a few times a year.” Full story here.

Lisa Novick walks in the backyard of her La Canada Flintridge home which features native low-water plants and sustainable design. More photos from the 2011 story here.

Landscape contractor and designer Shayne Naudi designed this Brentwood garden as a comfortable oasis for the homeowners and a habitat for birds and butterflies. Full story here.

In Hollywood, Pat Marfisi creates a “no-dig” landscape to grow food: raised beds using lasagna-like layers of fodder, bone and blood meal and compost -- and remarkably little water. Full story from 2008 here. How-to steps here.