JOURNAL / PEILIN LI

Notes on
making gardens.

One real question per article, answered with numbers and sources. Written by Peilin, from the projects.

Design visualization of a planted front path beside a house in Saratoga: layered low-water planting, clipped hedges and a stone walk to the door

October 20, 2026 · 9 min read

Drought-Tolerant Front Yard Design for the Bay Area: A Lawn Replacement Plan, the Plants, and the Rebates (2026)

How to replace a Bay Area front lawn with a drought-tolerant garden that still looks like a garden: a five-move design plan, low-water plants that work from San Jose to Marin, what it costs in 2026, and the $1–$4 per square foot rebates from Valley Water, EBMUD, BAWSCA and Marin Water.

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Design visualization of a Menlo Park backyard: an open lawn, a winding path, a shaded pavilion and layered planting under existing trees

October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Backyard Remodel Cost in the San Francisco Bay Area (2026): What the Money Buys, and Where to Save

What a backyard remodel costs in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2026: per-square-foot prices for patios, decks and planting, three worked budgets for a 1,000-square-foot yard, lawn-conversion rebates, and when a licensed contractor is required.

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A completed Japanese-inspired garden in California with a red timber bridge, pale gravel and mature trees

October 17, 2026 · 9 min read

Japanese-Inspired Garden Design for California Homes: 7 Principles, Plants and Costs

How to design a Japanese-inspired garden for a California home: seven principles that survive the move, plants that take dry summers and hot afternoons, and what design and construction cost in 2026.

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