Front yard makeover for Sacramento-area mid-century modern home: July 2025 update

Last September I introduced you to the Wichmann family (click here to read my post). They have created a dry garden in front of their mid-century modern house in Carmichael, a suburb of Sacramento. My frequent partner-in-crime Kyle and I recently caught up with the Wichmanns to see how their garden has evolved over the last year.

The Wichmanns in their driveway, with a small strip of their dry garden on the left

I love the curbside house number reflecting their home’s Streng Bros. heritage

This post actually has photos from two different visits. The first set is from early June when the two ‘Desert Museum’ palo verdes in the front garden were in glorious bloom:

A carpet of fallen petals under one of the palo verdes. So pretty. If you want a non-messy tree, ‘Desert Museum’ might not be the right choice for you. Actually, if you want no debris at all, you’re better off not planting any kind of tree.

The second set of photos was taken in mid-July. The palo verdes were done with their first wave of flowers, so it was easier to focus on the other plants in the garden.

Below is a photo from August 2024:

August 17, 2024

This is what the front garden looks like now:

July 13, 2025

The difference is quite dramatic. The garden has shed its “new” look and is beginning to settle comfortably. And most plants are noticeably bigger.

July 13, 2025

Here are some vignettes:

Golden barrels...

...who doesn’t like golden barrels?

Another one...

...and one more

Ferocactus pilosus

Agave geminiflora

Billy buttons (Pycnosorus globosus)

Moroccan mound (Euphorbia resinifera). Note to myself: GET ONE!

NOID euphorbia

Driveway bed (same as in the first photo)

Opuntia cochenillifera ‘Sunburst’

The backyard hasn’t changed much, but Tyler and Jessica are planning to make some big changes in the fall. For now, there’s still a lovely row of Mexican feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima), arguably the most polarizing ornamental grass out there (I’m in the “love it” camp):

The other corner of the backyard had a wonderful surprise: four sunflowers, three of them almost 6 ft. tall, looking like they were in deep conversation with each other.

Birdhouse sculptures by Stan Bitters

The sunflowers are placed perfectly, as if they had been planted there on purpose. In reality, they’re volunteers from seeds that had blown in from the neighbors’ yard. All Jessica and Tyler did was position the chairs just right.

Tyler recently had a custom rack made for this collection of potted cacti and euphorbias:

That rack is a thing of beauty. Sturdy as anything, too.

Just a few photos of the collection: an even mix of cacti and cactoid euphorbias, many in decorative pots.

Browningia hertlingiana

Variegated Euphorbia ammak in a pot on the ground

Finally, a few photos of the interior atrium. Many Streng Bros. homes originally had atriums, but in quite a few of them, they were replaced with conventional flooring over the years. Not so in the Wichmann’s house. Their atrium is the most spectacular example of its kind that I’ve seen.

You might think the plants in the atrium are plastic, but they’re not. They’re very real. Most of them are euphorbias. impeccably grown and maintained.

Living room

If you’re interested in mid-century modern architecture, check out this March 2024 article about the Wichmann’s home on the Open Space website. The accompanying 10-minute video is well worth watching, not only for the visuals of their house, including the atrium, but also for Tyler’s insightful commentary.

Here are a few other articles about the Wichmanns’ home:

• MCM Atrium: A Dry Garden Makeover (Atomic Ranch, May 2023)
• Wildflower Wonder: This 1976 Beauty Still Makes Sparks Fly (Inside Sacramento, February 2022)
• Younger People Seek to Preserve Strengs (Eicher Network, November 2021)

Tyler and Jessica own Timeless Thrills, a streetwear brand and retail store in Sacramento known for its local roots and community-focused approach. Their gallery space hosts exhibitions, art shows, and other events showcasing local, regional, and international artists. For more info, visit the Timeless Thrills website.

© Gerhard Bock, 2025. All rights reserved. To receive all new posts by email, please subscribe here.