By Jim McCausland, Sunset Magazine

 At recent new-variety flower trials in Bonsall, CA, I saw three beautiful, small, low-water garden beds designed by John Rader, who co-owns EuroAmerican Propagators, and Scott Barbour, who works for EuroAmerican.

Rader explained that the garden has three parts: succulents to make statuesque focal points; grasses to give the garden movement in the wind; and annual color that can be switched out from year to year, changing the garden’s look just as different clothes change your own appearance.

In the photograph at left, that's Agave 'Tentacles' serving as the succulent focal point, with Arctotis The Ravers 'Pink Sugar' for color.

Below left, Mexican feather grass (Stipa tenuissima) supplies motion with every breeze. It's surrounded by Brachyscome 'Blue Zephyr',  Diascia 'Flying Colors Orange', and Cotyledon 'Happy Young Lady'. Below right, the brainy-looking succulent in the foreground is Echeveria 'Red Glo'; Gaura lindheimeri 'Pink Picotee' and Calibrachoa Superbells 'Dreamsicle' grow behind it.

That's a closer view of Echeveria 'Red Glo' at left above, and Kalanchoe thyrsiflora at right.