When Encinitas resident Aine Shivnan bought her house last year, her vision for the torn-up backyard included a fireplace, a patch of grass for her dog, Bailey, and colorful, scented plants with low water and maintenance needs. But she didn't want a desert.

"Sometimes what I've seen with low-water gardens is that when you cut it back at a certain time of year, there's nothing there visually," said Shivnan.

Emma Almendarez and Linda Fox of Glorious Gardens in Oceanside realized Shivnan's vision with an eclectic mix of drought-tolerant plants from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa -- including the grassy spot for Bailey.

Their home-based business started three years ago, with Almendarez designing landscapes while Fox answered phones, scheduled appointments and kept the books. Last year, Fox got her landscape installation license.

"I saw all of Emma's great designs going to other landscapers, and I thought that was such a waste," said Fox, who holds a degree in philosophy, attended law school, and spent four years doing agri-forestry with the Peace Corps in Guatemala.

Almendarez was born in England, lived in South Africa and went to high school in Fallbrook, where her mother has a landscape design business.

Glorious Gardens won "Best New Exhibitor" at the San Diego Fair in 2005, and their playful drought-tolerant exhibit at the 2007 Spring Home & Garden Show -- of a dusty pickup truck with plants all around -- was awarded "Most Appealing to Children."

Almendariz and Fox specialize in xeriscape design and installation, the principles of which include grouping plants according to water needs; selecting and placing plants according to soil and growing conditions; amending soil to retain moisture and encourage root growth; irrigating efficiently; and mulching to retain moisture and curtail weed growth.

Xeriscape is often associated with cactus and spiky plants, but Almendarez said, "If you can show people a lush garden that doesn't need a lot of water, they jump on the idea. They can have what they want if they can find someone who can provide it."

Almendarez almost always includes drought-tolerant plants in her designs. "Most people think of drought-tolerant plants as cactus or not very attractive, but you can get really great results," she said.

"We're in a desert environment here, and we need to plant drought-tolerant plants," said Fox. "People don't take that into consideration, especially when you can get as much water as you want when you want."

After an initial two-hour consultation to determine a client's needs, the partners prepare an estimate, layout and plant list. Clients can then take on the project themselves, hire the partners by the hour to assist with or supervise the installation, or contract them to do the entire project, like Shivnan did.

They removed Shivnan's existing landscaping, built a new fence and bamboo gates, and installed a new irrigation system and plants such as flax, kangaroo paw, Spanish lavender and Santa Barbara sage. They also spread a thick layer of mulch over the flower beds to provide nutrition and give the beds a finished look.

A subcontractor installed Shivnan's hardscape (cement or concrete work, like patios) and fireplace. Fox plans to get her concrete certification license so they can install the hardscape elements of their designs for future clients.

When the project was finished, they gave Shivnan a plant list, irrigation schedule, and maintenance needs.

"I can't tell you what's out there, but I like it," said Shivnan. "I have a lot of sage and I love the smell of it."

Almendarez took a water conservation course at Cuyamaca College, and they both attended a firescaping workshop at UC San Diego last year. Where applicable, they implement firescape design -- plants and landscaping that will resist or deter wildfires -- into their plans.

Their goal is to install landscaping people want and will enjoy, customizing the design and plant selection to the customer's needs, especially when it comes to allergies, small pets, children and preserving privacy.

Cathy Trout Lichterman of Carlsbad contacted Glorious Gardens about updating her landscaping with flowering plants that needed little maintenance and water. Fox and Almendarez persuaded her that her neighbor's shrubs were enough to give her the privacy she wanted, and that she could start with a fresh palette in the backyard.

Instead of the old vine-covered shrubs, a new decorative concrete block wall retains a large planter filled with statice, Cleveland sage, variegated wallflower and Nemesia. Acacias and other shrubs were removed along an adjoining fence. Seating beside a new dry streambed now provides a peaceful spot to enjoy the garden.

"They gave me lots of color that's low-maintenance and drought-tolerant," said Lichterman. "They were great to work with and responsive to my concerns about taking out older, established plants and very gently convincing me that was the right way to go."

Cameron Leigh James is a freelance writer in Carlsbad.

Information

WHO: Glorious Gardens

WHERE: 1811 S. Tremont St., Oceanside

CALL: (888) 493-7472 or (760) 439-2976

FAX: (888) 760-8947

E-MAIL: info@agloriousgarden.com