Michele's succulent garden in Davis

My friend Michele lives in a small subdivision here in Davis where the homeowners’ association (HOA) manages common areas. As part of their purview, they also control what the front yards look like. Michele is one of a few homeowners who obtained permission to add water-wise landscaping after the HOA removed the previous lawn and added bark and stone. She recently started to plant succulents next to the walkway to her front door... ...and filled a divider between parking spaces with mangaves: Both beds are mulched with grayish purple rocks, purple being Michele’s favorite color. It’s wonderful to see turf giving way to much more sustainable—and attractive!—plantings. While Michele’s front yard is, by necessity, more restrained, her back yard is a treasure trove of succulents. After taking out a large tree in the corner (far left in the next photo), she suddenly had a large sunny space to fill. Never one to miss an opportunity like this, she created a dry garden. It’s still in its begin