How one L.A. couple ripped out the grass -- and created a drought-tolerant dreamscape

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This 1,200-square-foot front garden in Brentwood is alive with birds, butterflies and bees thanks to the milkweed, lilac verbena, monkeyflower and buckwheat that were planted to attract wildlife. Begun in May 2008, it proves what you can do when you ditch the grass.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Homeowner Andrew Russell worked closely together with landscape designer Shayne Naudi. She designed the space as a comfortable oasis for the homeowners and as a habitat for birds and butterflies.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Russell’s garden was started even early by his late wife, Kathy, who studied native plants before the transformation began.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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White ceanothus snow flurry adds shade inside the enclosed small front yard.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Dudleya cymosa, a kind of succulent, adds inviting detail.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Verbena lilacina ‘De La Mina’ spills out of a pot -- and adds color.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Soft Santa Barbara daisies bloom in the cottage-like garden.

(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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A drought-tolerant blue ceanothus anchors one corner of the front yard. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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An espaliered Ceanothus casts a shadow on a wall and gives the garden a more formal look. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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The parking strip is especially dramatic thanks to Santa Barbara daisies, grasses, poppies, lush silver-toned David’s Choice ground cover and a blue Palo Verde tree that gives the house a physical break from the busy street. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Galvezia speciosa commonly known as showy island snapdragon, is known for attracting hummingbirds. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Dendromecon harfordii, or Channel Island tree poppy, generally blooms April through July. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Native creeping red fescue spills onto the walkway from the parking strip. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Low water Santa Barbara daisies bloom throughout the garden and attract bees. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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California poppies, the official state flower of California, begin to bloom in the parking strip. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Canyon Prince grasses can grow 2 to 3 feet tall or larger, if given water. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Vitis californica, the California wild grape, grows on an arbor. Grapes will begin to ripen in the fall. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

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Native plants, crushed gravel and recycled concrete in the parking strip of Russell’s garden. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

By Lisa BooneStaff Writer

March 19, 2015 9 AM PT

Eight years ago, Kathy and Andrew Russell’s frontyard was like many of the gardens in their Brentwood neighborhood — monopolized by grass.

But after Kathy retired from UCLA Medical Center as a surgical nurse, she had the time to tear out the lawn and rethink the plot as something more environmentally friendly.

The yard sat empty for a year as she contemplated what to plant.

“Kathy was a thinker,” says landscape designer Shayne Naudi, who helped the couple update the small frontyard. “She was an advocate for native plants and studied books for a year.”

As a result, when it came time to landscape the yard — open to the public as part of the Theodore Payne Foundation Native Plant Garden Tour — native plants were a priority.

“That was Kathy’s thing,” Andrew says of his wife, who died last March. “She was into ecology and energy conservation. When she would walk the neighborhood, she would carry tongs to pick up trash.”

While they pondered gum plants and penstemon, the couple added an arbor and teak fence around the perimeter of the frontyard, installed irrigation and painted the exterior of the house a coffee tone to cut down on the heat that reflected from the original white facade.

The first planting was in May 2008, and today the 1,200-square-foot garden is alive with birds, butterflies and bees thanks to the milkweed, lilac verbena, monkeyflower and buckwheat that were planted to attract wildlife.

While some may think of native plants as untamed trail-side plantings, the Russell’s landscape is profoundly romantic. “This is a very cottage-like garden,” says Naudi. “We wanted something pretty, soft and native.”

Part of the romance comes from abundant color derived from poppies, golden yarrow, fuchsia, snapdragon and the enormous primrose that has migrated from another spot in the garden.

Blue and white ceanothus adds shade to the contained space, while climbing clematis vines and California wild grapes add privacy from the sidewalk.

A manzanita and blue ceanothus have been espaliered against the walls of the house, furthering the cottage sensibility. “Pruning allows you to see how gorgeous things can be,” says Naudi.

The parking strip is especially dramatic thanks to Santa Barbara daisies, grasses, poppies, lush silver-toned David’s Choice ground cover and a striking desert-tolerant blue Palo Verde tree that gives the house a physical break from the busy street.

Although the garden has struggled with soil disease and some drought issues — Russell says he waters with a drip once a week — the garden is a success thanks in large part to Kathy’s yearlong research.

Today it serves as a memorial for an avid gardener and native plant lover and as an inspiration for neighbors and tour-goers. “This garden is very special in terms of remembering Kathy,” Andrew says.

“She was the kindest person I ever knew,” adds Naudi. “She was concerned for humanity. Every time I’m here, she is with me.”

For a sampling of the kinds of gardens you might see on the tour, you could also peruse our photo previews from 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour

What: More than 40 L.A. gardens on a self-guided tour.

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday (San Fernando and San Gabriel valleys) and Sunday (L.A., Westside and South Bay)

Tickets: $30 for members of the Theodore Payne Foundation; $35 for nonmembers. Tickets include admission to all gardens both days and a printed guide.

Info: (818) 768-1802; nativeplantgardentour.org

[email protected]

Twitter: @lisaboone19