In the summer of 2021, we gave this garden a 21st-century makeover. We removed the juniper mounds and white gravel, replacing them with some of our favorite FARALLON plants to create a vibrant, drought- and fire-resistant garden for our terrific client in the Richmond Hills.

Fire-resistant succulents are excellent choices for wildfire-prone areas because their high water content and fleshy leaves slow flames, acting as natural firebreaks. Gravel mulch is excellent for fire-resistant landscaping, especially within 5 feet of buildings, because it's non-combustible and creates a vital firebreak, preventing embers from igniting structures, unlike flammable organic mulches.