Michael & Joan Doyle

During the severe drought in 2015, this homeowner took the water restrictions seriously and turned off the sprinklers. The result? A half-acre lot of brown grass. The time to re-landscape with drought tolerant plants had come. With a Cape Cod style home, the owners wanted to avoid a water-wise, “desert-scape.”

After removing over 6,000 square feet of grass, the yard was replanted with mass plantings of drought-tolerant grasses, iceberg, and ground cover roses, Mexican sage, and other flowering shrubs. Mature trees, two established rose gardens, and a much smaller lawn were retained.

Raised beds for vegetables and herbs provide an endless supply of summer produce. Flagstone and decomposed granite pathways complete this cottage garden design. Today this attractive garden is a mini-sanctuary for birds and butterflies, home to a flock of chickens, and the perfect spot to sip a glass of iced tea.