A sundial seems an appropriate decoration in a garden featuring drought resistant plants. Give the sundial or sculpture of your choosing a prominent position in the garden. Gilmer centers her sundial so that it serves as a focal element in the garden's design. Instructions: Create a checkerboard pattern around the sundial with stone pavers (figure A). Use as many as necessary to fill the desired area. Position plants while still in their pots to allow for easy adjusting. Consider topiary trees on either side of the garden for height and smaller herbaceous plants to dress up the ground surrounding the sundial and topiaries (figure B). Expert tip (Robert Smaus, garden writer): Australia, South Africa and Los Angeles are all considered Mediterranean climates. These locations have roughly the same latitude and all face west. Ocean breezes moderate their climates: not too hot in the summer, not too cold in the winter. As a result, these regions tend to grow the same kinds of plants.
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