add grass where there is dirt in front of the house imagine the soft silvery green foliage of california lilac ceanothus providing a backdrop interspersed with the succulents like agave and aloe groundcover of creeping thyme or sedum might soften the edges of the paver path accent splashes of color come from native wildflowers such as california poppies in bright orange and yellow or perhaps clusters of vivid magenta bougainvillea draped over a subtle trellis near the fence line lavender bushes would add not only a pop of purple but also a fragrant aroma show a pathway with large rectangle format stone pavers in varying earthy tones perhaps a mix of warm grays and muted tans laid in a linear pattern on either side of this path and throughout the yard are clusters of low water shrubs and vibrant resilient flowers show landscaping around the house that transitions into a typical display of drought resistant flora the planting is deliberately informal yet meticulously designed creating a sense of natural beauty that thrives in the bay area climate there are varying heights and textures preventing the scene from appearing flat larger more established drought tolerant trees perhaps a western redbud or a small oak might be visible towards the rear corners providing a sense of scale and a touch of shade
