When they purchased the house, the yard was primarily St. Augustine grass and Nandina. While they left many of the healthy plants, today much of the front yard is filled with Monkey grass that allows for easy care. Barely noticeable below the plants are the five berms that help keep rainwater in the yard. Overflow travels to French drains.

They have also added over 60 species of native and adapted plants throughout the landscape. This spring and summer color provides great contrast to the many evergreen plants.

Tucked in a corner of the L-shaped house is a large rainwater harvesting cistern. Barely visible to passers-by, it can be best seen when standing on the front porch.

Overflow from the tank feeds the small pond which is surrounded by irises. The goal was to use rainwater rather than chlorinated water for the fish in the pond.

The PV solar panels sit above the cistern. David said that the solar water heater that they installed has easily paid for itself.

The terraced back yard has pervious walkways - mulch, granite and brick which has been laid in sand, giving the landscape a very diverse texture. There is a minimal amount of grass which serves as a playground for their dog, Owen. The Todds originally had very thirsty St. Augustine grass, and then switched to Buffalo which they found was prone to weeds. For their third lawn, they added irrigation which has kept the Zoysia grass healthy with a minimal amount of water.