Landscape makover

Before: The Ludlows' yard featured a Kentucky bluegrass lawn and a variety of perennials — including day lilies, dianthus and Jacob's ladder — planted along the front of the house. Two peach trees grew on the north side of their house.

After: The Ludlows' yard now features a variety of perennials, ground covers, shrubs and trees. In addition Eden tall fescue — a water-wise grass — replaces the Kentucky bluegrass lawn. Here's a complete list of the plantings in the Ludlows' yard.

Perennials:

Palace purple coral bells — Purple leaves with white flowers that bloom in early summer.

Moonbeam coreopsis — Narrow leaves with yellow star-like flowers. Blooms all summer.

Elfin pink bearded tongue — Pink flowers that bloom in midsummer.

Husker's red penstemon — Red and green leaves and white or pink flowers that bloom in spring and early summer.

English lavender — Gray-green foliage. Blue-purple flowers bloom mid- to late summer.

Sunset hyssop — Orange flowers bloom in late summer/fall.

Ground covers:

Pink creeping thyme — Green foliage. Pink flowers bloom in late summer.

White creeping thyme — Green foliage. Small white flowers bloom in late summer.

Red creeping thyme — Creeping foliage with dark-pink/red flowers.

Iceplant — Purple daisy-like flowers that bloom in early summer.

Shrubs:

Pink potentilla — Green foliage and pale pink flowers.

Yellow potentilla — Green foliage and yellow flowers.

Creeping Oregon grape — Yellow flowers and blue edible berry. Leaves turn red-orange in autumn.

Massachusetts kinnikinnick — Pink or white bell-shaped flowers.

Alpine currant — Yellow-green flower and red edible berry.

Trees:

Rocky Mountain maple — Bright yellow leaf in fall.

Flame amur maple — Red or yellow leaf in fall.

Service berry tree — White or pink flowers in spring. May require no water.

Lawn:

Eden tall fescue — A mix of Kentucky bluegrass and fescue with tolerance for drought conditions.

Vines:

Purple clematis — Purple flowers in late summer, early fall.