Lawn, Be Gone! Front Yard Makeover for Drought Resilience

In drought-stricken Los Angeles, a family replaced their front lawn with a bocce court surrounded by native, pollinator-friendly plants. LA's Phase 2 restrictions (8 min sprinklers 3x/week, no car washing) and "drought shaming" prompted action. The city offered $2-4/sq ft turf removal rebates for drought-tolerant landscaping.

They wanted to keep a play area, so they built a 12x45 ft permeable decomposed granite bocce court (allowed under rebate rules) crossing the front walk. With designer Sloan Foxe Ashley, they planted California natives for birds, bees, butterflies—especially monarchs: narrow-leaf milkweed (Asclepias fascicularis), ceanothus, echinacea, salvias, penstemons, buckwheats, native pelargonium, catmint, rock purslane, coyote mint. Drip irrigation under mulch minimizes water use. One month post-planting, the garden buzzes with pollinators; neighbors join bocce games. A sign explains the garden. The author holds the block bocce record, distracted by fluttering wings.