1. Home & Garden

Deck on Side

Path Materials in Water Conservation Landscape Design

The Road to Drought-Tolerant Design is Paved with Creative Hardscape: A Photo Gallery of Path Designs and Ideas
side deck at drought tolerant house in santa monica

A wood side deck smartly blends the front and back yards of this Santa Monica house.

Photo © Lisa Hallett Taylor
Besides doing what a wood deck is supposed to do -- serve as an outdoor room -- it's also a side yard and route from front yard to back, and vice versa. Tall, narrow bamboo helps with privacy and sets a tropical mood.

This was one of 45 residential gardens that were part of the April 2009 tour conducted by the Theodore Payne Foundation. The gardens are in the Los Angeles area and each contains at least 50% native plants. Plants that are indigenous to a certain region are considered natives, rather than those that have been introduced from different territories and climates, and that require special care to get them to thrive in non-native environments.

Because California is in its third year of drought, water restrictions are being imposed in cities throughout the state. California is not alone in adapting drought-tolerant landscaping. Other areas that have experience with drought include the southwestern states and Georgia, along with arid desert regions, Australia, Israel, Singapore, South Africa, the Netherlands and Australia.

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.