CactiGuide.com

Have a bulbine planted and a few Gazanias ( in the back ) and a few dudleyas which you can't see they are still small. So far they have survived a slight freeze. A agave which is all shaded this time of year did not.

Thinking of putting in a Toyon tree -bush a CA native to give some shade in Summer for more succulents. This is a west facing wall gets pretty hot in Summer. The ditch is for irrigation I put in stream sprayers which I can adjust way down.

Had to remove a wall to wall lawn before I could start the garden.

Looking good.

I like how you inset the river stone. looking good.

Here is an overview. My plan is to plant grass inside the boarder and plants and rocks around the edge. Shade all winter on the far side so that rules out cactus. some kind of cool succulent looking plant maybe bird of paradise and sagos ? Some jade plants ? A few dudleyas already in against the wall.

Coffee grounds from Starbucks I dig them into the soil were the grass will go. Makes the yard smell like burnt coffee but better smelling than some other things you could add to the soil plus its FREE

why not make two squares and in the middle of the squares plant cacti and succulents. and on the outside of the square grow grass and dudleyas, maybe a sago and bird of paradise.

why not make two squares and in the middle of the squares plant cacti and succulents"

Good idea but I'm all pavered out plus the Sprinklers are in so it will be grass. When I move to a less expensive nabe without a HOA I plan to put in a greenhouse. At this time my cactus are in portable benches this is because I tend to move around for work reasons.

Just keep in mind that both bird of paradise and sago's tend to expand quite a bit, my sago's are going nuts with throwing out new pups at the moment and will have to be addressed at some stage before they start breaking edging around them.
Much the same with a ponytail palm that the previous owners planted not far from the house, it's now mere inches away from the front foundation and will have to be moved.

Grass is growing and more Dudleyas have been planted around the wall in the rocks. I put a aloe in also. Water is scarce is grass may not make it ? have to use dish water and think about draining washer machine into buckets .

CA poppies

Some succulents planted in the rock garden

The grass is mostly filled in with Succulents planted around edges plus some other plants. I'm going to plant Calandrinia grandiflora from some cuttings I rooted. Dudleyas are doing well but didn't flower. Echeverrias I moved to a mostly shady place because they were getting sunburned. The Aloe looks good. We will see can't water too much we have a drought again probably permanent this time.

Done finally. Noramlly I have cactus benches out but I moved them because of Ag spraying for citrus killer bug and they never showed up. figures.

Interesting output.

When I first bought the place it was wall to wall grass , no way could I grow cactus in this back yard with water overspray everywhere they would all get black mold on the spines, etc.

Plus then we had a drought so I was ahead of the curve.