Ideas for Front Lawn Garden

Hello guys. We have a southwest facing 30'x15' patch of "dirt" as our front yard, and before we get a citation, we are planning on raising it about 24-36 inches with a retaining wall/riprap made from those prefab blocks from HD or Lowe's. I'd like to get your guys' input on:
1. plants (vines, flowering, etc.)
2. to lawn or not to lawn
3. or any type of creative suggestions
4. a specimen tree (if doable)

We do have a bunch of BEAUTIFUL rocks/semi-boulders found around the property that I'd like to use and tuck in some plants/vines/mosses that would trail down from their nooks and crannies :)... The rocks aren't the garden variety (pardon the pun) stuff, they're varrigated/straiated with (greens/blues/rust/whites/blacks) minerals and they're just plain gorgeous! I also have a few large terracotta planters/pots that i'd like to disperse here and there for vertical interest...

I've already accumulated the following plants which are on standby in my backyard garden:
Lavenders (purples and whites), daisies (whites/Gaillardias), lily of the valley (dwarf), purple/pink azalea, tulips (black/yellow/white/blush), Bi-color buttterfly bush, purple/white columbines, and bouganvilleas (one red and one deep purple). I'm still scouting my local box stores for "orphaned/unwanted" plants to take home and adopt :)

So any ideas?

Thanks much and happy gardnin!

You don't say what zone you're in but High Country Gardens specializes in plants for hot, dry climates. They have an online site--you might want to take a look. They have some good ideas for "lawns" without grass.

oh, zone 9-ish. northern ca.

I would definitely avoid the lawn if you can--every year it seems like more areas have water restrictions so if you want to be able to have a nice looking front yard when those restrictions hit Hayward you'll be happier if you don't have a lawn! Not to mention saving money between now and then. But if you have an HOA you may want to check their rules, even out here where you would think having no lawn would be perfectly acceptable, some HOA's have an issue with it. I'll second the recommendation to check out High Country Gardens--they are a great source of inspiration (but check locally for the plants before you order online...many of the things they sell are available locally too and you'll get a bigger plant for your money if you buy locally). I'd also drop by some local nurseries and see what they've got.

As far as the plants you already have--I'm not sure how lilies of the valley do here. I have honestly never seen anyone growing them, so I figure there has to be a good reason! LOL Also your tulips will need to be dug up and chilled every year if you want them to bloom reliably since there's not enough winter chill here. And the bougainvilleas may need a little winter protection depending on what sort of microclimates you have in your yard. When I lived in Martinez, most of them would winter over although I did lose them sometimes, but here in Dublin I have not had any luck with them. Your winters are a bit warmer than mine, but they may still need a little help if you get some really cold weather.

Lastly, I don't know if you are able to wait to plant things, but we're heading into summer and that is the worst possible time of year to plant things, you'd be better off doing your planning now and getting your rocks and retaining wall in place, but waiting until fall to plant things if you can.

Oh planting will definitely be happenin in the Fall. As for the Lily of the Valley, it's surprising but there is a grouping of these in our backyard that comes up every spring! And the ones I ordered from Cottage farms are doing great too! Only lost two because I left them out where the sun's the hottest longest (trying to see where they'd feel right at home). They like it right under our peach tree where they get dappled sun and the area is pretty much 5 degrees cooler all day, also the ground around there seems to always be semi moist (but not overly wet).

As for the tulips, they're still in my chiller in the garage. Haven't had the time to plant them yet so still waiting for the perfect time and spot. The bougainvilleas are very determined. I've had them since last year and they have been behaving very well. I have two of them climbing up our two trees in the backyard and the other two on standby. (The plants I listed are not all going to the front yard that's why I'm scouting for suggestions:)

I have been looking at High Country Gardens for some time now and I am going to be ordering from them because of their Xeriscape selection. And you're right, ecrane, I am not too happy about having a lawn. For one thing, it will be horrible to mow (not very big area esp after plants) and the another is the water issue! BUT my dear husband is deadset (he THINKS he is- I guess he's got another think coming!) :).

I want to stay away from bulbs because I have those in my backyard. I'll probably have a couple of specimen bulbs out front but that's it. I like flowering evergreens(?), maybe some grasses, climbers and vines, an exotic plant or two... I want it too look comfortable/familiar (like a cottage garden) but a little unusual at the same time :D
Maybe a Japanese Cottage Xeriscape Rock Garden?!? :):):)

We've brought the beds near the front of the house way out into the yard, and other than the large oaks, crepe myrtles, and the miscanthus, I think everything is evergreen. If you have some protection from the sun, these gardenias are hard to beat. We've been lucky, and haven't been restricted on our watering very often, so these plants might not work for you, but you get the idea.

Gardenias (not blooming) and our solution to the tree roots that kept us from growing any grass

And the other side of the front yard

Irwells: Nicely done, I have one question about the edging around the oak in pic.2. Have you had any trouble with the tree roots pushing the edging back up out of the ground? I had tried this where I live and the tree roots about once a year pushed the edging up. So I tore it out and just let the grass and other plants grow together and got really precise at weed eating around the plant edges. Just curious, our soil here is clay base. I guess that could have an effect.

Not had any trouble with the oak roots, but I have trouble with the bald cypress roots in the back pushing up everything. Have to did down into the decomposed granite (and sometimes lift some of the patio "bricks") and chop them off severely. Doesn't seem to hurt the tree, although it's a PIA.

I also have an issue with the roots of a sweetgum next to the driveway. I really don't want to enlarge the bed there, because I like it the way it is, but I may not have much choice.

Irwells, that's great landscaping! Thanks for the ideas.
Well, I had a "talk" with my dear hubby about possibly doing without the lawn. I pointed out the water issue and really, there wouldn't be that much lawn after i'm done planting! Plus, "wouldn't it be better if we just re-used the slate we already have sitting in the side yard and create a sitting/bench area out front?" -I think this was the clincher :)...

So here's a TEMP list of plants that I'd like for our yard (open to ideas and pros/cons of each):
-lavender
-columbine
-butterfly bush (white)
-bogeys
-daisies
-fragrant ground cover (for in-between stones/slate) (maybe herbs?)
-hostas
-vine/climber/trailer (don't know what yet)
-a couple of dwarf ornamental grasses (maybe)
-
-
-

Not a great picture, but we did a small flagstone seating area in the front also. Of course, it faces west, so I can't say we ever use it, and I don't think you'll be wanting yellow flag iris!

What's the sun/shade situation in the yard? Most of your plants look like sun plants, but the hostas will need shade and probably a bit more water than many of the other things.

Salvia is another wonderful choice for sun that does great in our climate--there are tons of different ones in a variety of colors and many of them have long bloom periods. Between the flagstones you might consider some sort of thyme...I have wooly thyme in a couple places and it's very nice, and I know other people use creeping thyme for that same purpose. I also have coreopsis and yarrow in my front yard, they're good for sunny areas too

If you want some more lawn-free inspiration, here's a pic of part of my lawn-free front yard:

That looks great, ecrane.

The front yard gets the afternoon sun. There's also a cluster of tree topiaries (neighbor's) on one side that provides a decent shady spot. Is that a purple butterfly bush, E? What's the plant in front of it to the right? I'm likin it! :) Your lawn-free yard is sort of what I had in mind. Except we're using the slate and black tree mulch. I can probably fit a small round table and two chairs or one decent sized bench for the sitting area.
Xeriscape plants are too "stringy" that's why I'm dispersing some hostas and just a few more "succulent" plants to balance it out a bit and add more interest. As soon as we get it prepped, I'll start posting pictures of the progress. Maybe you guys can shoot me some pointers in the process. Oh btw, E, my comatosed rose is looking better. The witch's broom thing might taper off if I just let it do its thing for a few weeks... :) (I've just joined the Dave's subscribers (woohoo!) and just waiting for a chance to get my profile organized withpictures/projects and such :)!

The thing that looks like a purple butterfly bush is Vitex agnus-castus, a great large shrub/small tree if you're looking for something along those lines (mine has only been in the ground a couple years so it's not full size yet). And the plant next to it is yarrow (Achillea millefolium), not sure which cultivar since it didn't come with a label but you can get it in a range of colors.

If you're interested in a butterfly bush but don't want a house eater, there's a dwarf blue, which I can't remember the name of. Blue chip, something chip, that I planted this year. Not big enough to bloom yet.