Living artCreating a serene space topped the list when landscape designer Beth Mullins created this backyard retreat near San Francisco's Glen Park. The owners use their garden mainly to relax and unwind, and dreamed of having their own labyrinth. So Mullins created a living labyrinth outlined with Carex divulsa, an extremely tough and versatile grass-like sedge that can handle sun or shade and take drought once it's established after a couple years of growth. Now mature, the sedge needs very little care or irrigation, and Mullins says, "Instead of a water or fire feature, this becomes the focal point. It's like having a piece of art in the garden that's functional, and when people gather, you don't have to move it out of the way." Photo: Beth Mullins Growsgreen, Growsgreen.com