Project Management

Smart Landscaping for Drought Conditions

Living in the Bay Area means dealing with drought, which can make it tough to keep a garden looking green and healthy. Many homeowners struggle to balance water restrictions with maintaining a beautiful yard. Traditional landscaping often requires a lot of water, leading to high bills and plants that don’t thrive in dry conditions.

The good news? With the right approach, you can have a vibrant, low-water landscape that’s both beautiful and sustainable.

Reimagine Your Outdoor Space

Moving into a new Bay Area home or wanting to refresh your yard is an exciting opportunity—but it can also come with challenges, especially if the existing landscaping feels uninspired. One of the best ways to transform your space is by adding hardscaping features like patios, walkways, and retaining walls. Pairing these with drought-tolerant plants—such as succulents and California natives—creates a beautiful, low-maintenance landscape that thrives with minimal water.

Landscape designer Galen Fultz specializes in blending hardscaping with sustainable plant choices to create outdoor spaces that are both stylish and eco-friendly. With smart solutions like drip irrigation and rainwater harvesting, you can maintain a lush, thriving garden without wasting water.

Imagine stepping into a backyard that perfectly balances structure and greenery—a space that feels inviting, effortless, and tailored to your home. With our hands-on approach, we’ll bring your vision to life. Ready to get started? Let’s create a landscape that’s beautiful, functional, and built to last.

Welcome to Avant Garden

Galen Fultz is a landscape designer and project manager with over 30 years of experience. His work has been featured in Better Homes and Gardens, California Home and Design, and HGTV publications. In addition to designing beautiful outdoor spaces, he founded the Marin Gardening School in 1996 and has taught landscape design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Galen is also a popular speaker at local nurseries and garden events.

From Vision to Reality: Galen’s Project Management Approach

Creating your ideal outdoor space starts with a thoughtful and collaborative process. During this phase, Galen will meet with you to discuss your ideas, preferences, and project goals.

Personalized Consultation

Galen begins with a detailed walkthrough of your yard, taking note of its layout, existing features, and potential improvements. This helps him understand how you use your space and what you envision for it.

Collaborative Design Process

Great design is a team effort. Galen listens carefully to your ideas, style, and needs—whether you want a peaceful retreat, an entertaining space, or a mix of both. This ensures that every part of the design reflects your vision.

Concept Development

After gathering insights from your consultation, Galen creates a detailed design plan, including layout ideas, plant selections, and hardscape elements.

By blending your ideas with Galen’s expertise, we create a seamless project plan that brings your dream Bay Area garden to life—beautiful, functional, and uniquely yours.

What We Do Best

At Avant Garden, we specialize in garden design, outdoor living spaces, and custom landscaping. With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of plants, Galen creates landscapes that are not only beautiful but also built to last. Whether it’s selecting the right plants or designing functional outdoor areas, his expertise ensures a space that feels natural, inviting, and sustainable.

Hands-On Project Management

Galen is involved in every step of your project, from the initial planning to the final touches. His hands-on approach ensures that every detail is carefully considered, bringing your vision to life with precision and care.

A Garden That Thrives

With Avant Garden, you can feel confident that your outdoor space will stay healthy and vibrant, even in drought conditions. Galen integrates drought-tolerant plants and smart water-saving systems to create a landscape that not only looks great but also stands up to the elements. The result? A stunning, low-maintenance garden you can enjoy year-round.