Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance

Sarah Sarkissian is a passionate lover of dry landscape, with the eye of an artist and the mind of an engineer. She knows exactly what it takes to have a water-wise yet bountiful garden in Southern California. Her front garden, here, was designed along a plan by landscape architect Lisa Iwata of Land Interactive.

“We wanted a coherent design,” says Sarkissian, “not just a collection of plants.” The front yard also has a custom water harvesting system.

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‘Apricot Nectar’ rose is planted among cactus, iris and purple statice.

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The matilija poppy opens to reveal delicate, crepe-like petals.

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A decorative lizard is perched on a rock in the water-wise front yard of Sarkissian’s garden.

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• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
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A columbine shimmers in the afternoon light.

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• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
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A ‘Marmalade Skies’ rose looks right at home among cactus.

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• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
• Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance
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Another whimsical decoration in an area where roses grow alongside cactus.

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• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
• Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance
• Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries  (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)

Drought-resistant Cleveland sage glows bright blue in the afternoon sun.

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• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
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The hardy Mexican evening primrose is in full bloom.

Also in Home & Garden

• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
• Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance
• Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries  (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)

‘Anna’ apples are among the fruits and vegetables grown in the backyard.

Also in Home & Garden

• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
• Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance
• Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries  (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)

Geoff Sarkissian, Sarah’s husband, shows off a few of their ‘Garden Prince’ almonds.

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• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
• Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance
• Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries  (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)

Sarah Sarkissian rakes leaves under a front yard canopy of live oaks that she and her husband planted. She considers the glen, visible from the street, “one of the most interesting things we’ve done.”

Also in Home & Garden

• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
• Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance
• Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries  (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)

Handmade steps lead to a sitting area along Santiago Creek.

Also in Home & Garden

• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
• Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance
• Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries  (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)

Sarah Sarkissian dusts off a best garden award that the front garden recently received from the California Friendly Garden Contest, sponsored by Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar.

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• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
• Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance
• Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries  (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)

A meadow sage attracts a bee in the backyard.

Also in Home & Garden

• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
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Sarah Sarkissian casts a shadow in the late afternoon light as she works in her garden. She and her husband have lived since 1989 in the modest house they built and over the years they have learned about native plants and water harvesting, observed the wildlife and repeatedly walked the land.

“To me it’s the most amazing place in Orange County,” she says of Modjeska Canyon.

Also in Home & Garden

• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
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The richly planted, spacious backyard slopes to Santiago Creek. The yard is an assemblage of small gardens, sitting areas, an orchard and an artfully sited utility yard and the water harvesting system in the front also feeds the back. Irrigation is divided into zones with roses and vegetables near the house watered regularly; the small orchard receives infrequent deep watering along with some ornamentals; California native plants and trees aren’t irrigated at all.

Also in Home & Garden

• Bringing an Everett Babcock design back to life
• Modjeska Canyon garden strikes a water-friendly balance
• Eye Candy: Home & Garden Photo Galleries  (Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times)