The plants now separate the spaces as intended: New Zealand flax separates the deck living area from the play lawn under a magnolia. The shrubs now have enough mass to separate the deck area from the street. The dymondia has filled in, as has the germander, softening hard edges and binding the landscape together.
Plants
Germander. This is a good low ground cover with violet flowers in spring. It spreads slowly and generally looks good year round. It does not tolerate wet soil, however.
Dr. Hurd Manzanita. This might be considered a risky choice, but their soil is good, the plant is on a slope and it seems to be doing well. It will eventually become a small tree with beautiful bark.
Dymondia. This low ground cover is actually a daisy from Africa. It hugs the ground, creeping along slowly. Deep roots ensure that it doesn’t need a lot of water.
Purple Smoke Tree. Another accent plant that brings deep purple foliage to the mix. Planted with gray fescue it’s a stylish combination.