About The Author

At one time, I was a young Landscape Architecture graduate with aspirations of entering the business, but life took me on a detour. Over the last several years, I’ve immersed myself in landscape plants suited to dry climates—especially succulents like aloes and agaves, but also a range of companion species that thrive in California’s Mediterranean conditions. There’s something about their combination of practicality, architectural form, beauty, and oddness that keeps me engaged as a gardener, designer, and collector.

Many of the plants I write about are ones I’ve grown myself—either in my home garden or at the nursery. While I can’t personally trial every variety we offer (there are simply too many!), I always aim to share firsthand experience when I can. From stormy winters to summer heat, I’ve watched how these species respond to real-life conditions—including deer, gophers, ants, and everything else nature throws at us.

This blog is a space for sharing what I’ve learned: growing tips, design ideas, plant profiles, and stories from both the garden and the greenhouse. Whether you’re just getting started or building out a full dry garden, I hope these posts offer something useful—and maybe spark a few ideas along the way.