Extensive rockwork and winding pathways define this Italian-style hillside garden. Replacing five hundred square feet of water-guzzling sod, the drought-tolerant landscape is a usable, park-like setting and a natural habitat for visiting fauna. Succulents include a variety of Aeonium, colorful pencil cactus (Euphorbia tirucalli), and exotic Agaves for visual impact. Two dozen mature olive trees are planted in a grid design to provide a central structure, with several varieties of bunch grasses, Salvias, and five varieties of lavender to grace pathways bordered in cut stone. “My greatest desire is to transform a water-dependent garden into a beautiful, fragrant, seasonal, colorful landscape that not only excites the senses but brings joy, contemplation, and contentment,” says Trace.