Southwest Garden...

We took a tiny front yard in a new tract of homes and transformed it into a Southwest garden, complete with lacy Palo Verde trees, succulents and cactus.

A new walkway leads visitors to the front door. A sod lawn flanks both sides to create a sense of spaciousness, while water-conserving perennials, ornamental grasses, succulents and cactus soften the edges.

A stark, "builders's special" walkway posed a less-than-inviting welcome. Now, buff-toned interlocking pavers guide the way past the client's marvelous collection of cactus and succulents.

A narrow driveway strip comes alive with desert plants bearing leaves in shades of green, red, orange, blue and gray.

Another view of the blending of lawn, cactus and succulents.

Specimen plants preen for their closeups. In keeping with the Southwest theme, beds are mulched with crushed stone, rather than traditional bark.