Opulands Wins 2026 Xeriscape Residential Landscape Installation Award for Our Running Springs Xeriscape Project
Creating a beautiful landscape is about more than choosing attractive plants and materials. The most successful outdoor spaces balance aesthetics, durability, environmental responsibility, and the technical expertise required to make every element perform as intended. At Opulands Landscape & Design, we are proud to announce that our Running Springs Xeriscape Oasis project has been recognized with the 2026 CLCA SF Bay Area Chapter Achievement Award for Xeriscape Residential Installation.
Receiving this CLCA landscape installation award is an exciting recognition of the planning, craftsmanship, and water-wise landscape design that went into the Running Springs project. From natural stone retaining walls and drought-tolerant planting selections to the underlying construction work that stabilized the property, this project demonstrates how thoughtful xeriscaping can create an outdoor environment that feels natural, refined, and built for long-term performance.
Opulands Receives a 2026 CLCA Award for Xeriscape Residential Installation
The California Landscape Contractors Association (CLCA) SF Bay Area Chapter recognized Opulands Landscape & Design for excellence in residential xeriscape installation through its 2026 Achievement Awards.
Our award-winning Running Springs Xeriscape Oasis showcases an approach to landscape construction that places equal emphasis on visual character and practical performance. Rather than simply creating a drought-tolerant planting area, our goal was to develop a cohesive landscape that complements its surroundings while addressing the property's functional requirements.
The resulting landscape combines carefully selected materials, water-conscious plantings, and technically demanding site improvements into an outdoor space designed to remain attractive and functional for years to come.
For our team, receiving this CLCA award represents recognition not only of the finished landscape, but also of the planning and craftsmanship that made it possible.
The Vision Behind the Running Springs Xeriscape Oasis
Xeriscape design is sometimes associated with sparse landscapes or limited planting options, but the Running Springs project demonstrates how much creativity is possible within a water-wise landscape.
Our vision was to create an outdoor environment that appeared established and naturally connected to the property rather than overly constructed or artificial. Organic shapes, natural materials, drought-tolerant vegetation, and carefully considered transitions helped create a landscape with a timeless character.
Several important elements shaped the finished design:
- Natural stone retaining walls that helped stabilize the property while blending organically into the landscape.
- Drought-tolerant plants selected to reduce ongoing irrigation requirements while providing visual interest.
- Water-wise landscape planning designed around the realities of the Bay Area climate.
- Natural textures and materials that complement the surrounding vegetation and architecture.
- Thoughtful grading and construction that addressed site conditions beneath the visible landscape.
- Integrated pathways and planting areas that create movement and cohesion throughout the outdoor space.
Together, these elements transformed the property into a xeriscape oasis that balances sustainability with sophisticated residential landscape design.
Natural Stone Retaining Walls Provide Beauty and Structural Support
One of the defining components of the Running Springs project is its use of natural stone retaining walls.
Retaining walls can play an essential role on properties with changes in elevation, helping manage soil and create more stable, usable landscape areas. On this project, however, structural performance was only part of the objective.
Natural stone was selected to create retaining features that look as though they belong within the surrounding terrain. The irregular forms and earthy textures of the stone complement the drought-tolerant plantings while helping establish the naturalistic character of the landscape.
This combination of structural function and visual integration is an important part of what makes the project distinctive. Instead of treating necessary site infrastructure as something to hide, the landscape incorporates those elements into the overall design.
Drought-Tolerant Plantings Help Reduce Long-Term Water Demand
Water conservation is at the heart of effective xeriscape design.
For the Running Springs landscape, drought-tolerant plantings were strategically incorporated to reduce long-term water requirements while still providing texture, dimension, and seasonal visual interest.
Plants with sculptural forms, contrasting foliage, and varying heights were arranged throughout the landscape to keep the planting design visually dynamic. Succulents and other climate-appropriate selections help create an attractive landscape without relying on expansive areas of thirsty traditional turf.
A thoughtfully planned xeriscape can provide homeowners with several long-term advantages, including:
- Reduced landscape water consumption
- Lower irrigation demands
- Less dependence on traditional lawns
- Improved compatibility with California's climate
- Reduced ongoing landscape maintenance requirements
- Year-round texture and visual interest
- A distinctive landscape character tailored to the property
The objective is not simply to use less water. Effective xeriscaping is about designing a landscape in which every material and plant serves a purpose.
An Award-Winning Landscape Starts Beneath the Surface
Some of the most important work involved in creating an exceptional landscape is never visible once construction is finished.
Site preparation, grading, soil stabilization, drainage planning, retaining structures, and proper installation techniques all influence how well a landscape performs over time. A beautifully planted property can quickly develop problems if these foundational elements are overlooked.
The Running Springs project is an example of why technical expertise is such an important part of professional landscape construction.
Natural stone retaining walls helped stabilize the site, while careful planning allowed planting areas, pathways, and other landscape features to work together as one cohesive environment. These underlying construction decisions help protect the integrity of the finished landscape and support its long-term performance.
Projects like Running Springs remind us that exceptional landscapes are often defined as much by what you cannot see as by what you can.
Why Water-Wise Landscape Design Matters in the Bay Area
Water-wise landscaping is particularly well suited to Bay Area properties, where homeowners often want beautiful outdoor spaces without unnecessary irrigation demands.
Xeriscape principles can be incorporated into landscapes of many different architectural and aesthetic styles. A water-conscious landscape does not have to look desert-like or minimal. With appropriate plant selection and thoughtful hardscape design, it can feel lush, layered, sophisticated, and inviting.
Successful xeriscape design may incorporate features such as drought-tolerant shrubs and perennials, ornamental grasses, succulents, natural stone, decorative gravel, mulch, permeable areas, efficient irrigation systems, and carefully positioned shade trees.
The key is designing these elements as part of an integrated landscape rather than simply replacing thirsty plants individually.
Our Running Springs project demonstrates this philosophy by combining environmental stewardship with craftsmanship and residential design.
Creating Landscapes That Balance Sustainability, Function, and Luxury
Sustainable landscaping and luxury outdoor design do not have to be competing ideas.
In fact, some of the most compelling residential landscapes are created when environmental considerations become part of the design process from the beginning. Choosing drought-tolerant vegetation, incorporating durable natural materials, designing appropriate drainage, and reducing unnecessary water use can all improve the long-term functionality of a landscape without compromising its appearance.
The Running Springs Xeriscape Oasis illustrates how those principles can come together.
Its beauty comes not from excessive ornamentation, but from the relationship between carefully placed plants, natural stone, pathways, terrain, and the surrounding environment. Every element contributes to a landscape that feels intentional without feeling forced.
That balance is central to our approach at Opulands.
About Opulands Landscape & Design
Opulands Landscape & Design is a Bay Area family-owned outdoor remodeling company specializing in luxury residential landscaping and hardscaping design and installation. We help homeowners transform front yards and backyards into distinctive outdoor environments designed around their homes, lifestyles, and long-term goals.
Our team designs and builds beautiful paver driveways, patios, walkways, and pool decks, along with outdoor living features such as BBQ islands, pergolas, and firepits. Homeowners can also incorporate a synthetic lawn or custom putting green to turn an underused yard into an opulent outdoor oasis.
Quality workmanship is a cornerstone of everything we do. Whether we are creating a water-wise xeriscape, installing hardscaping, improving a property's outdoor living areas, or completing a comprehensive landscape transformation, our goal is to create a space that performs beautifully and that our clients can enjoy for many years.
Ready to Create Your Own Award-Worthy Bay Area Landscape?
Winning the 2026 CLCA landscape installation award for our Running Springs Xeriscape Oasis is an exciting milestone for Opulands, and it reinforces the design and construction philosophy we bring to every project: beautiful landscapes should be thoughtfully engineered, expertly installed, environmentally responsible, and built to last.
Many thanks to the award sponsor Horizons Distributors as well as other sponsors and volunteers of the CLCA San Francisco. It was a beautiful event and congratulations to the other award winners.
If you are considering a new xeriscape, complete backyard remodel, front yard transformation, new hardscape, outdoor entertaining area, synthetic lawn, putting green, or another residential landscape improvement, our team would love to help bring your vision to life.
Contact Opulands Landscape & Design today to schedule your free landscaping design consultation and discover what is possible for your Bay Area property.