Photos: Scents, hues, even nests create a scene in Garden Conservancy tour stop

Laura Morton prunes some flowering lantana at the front of her house in Los Angeles. Her gardens will be open to the public on Saturdayas part of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days tour. On the roofline above her, husband Jeff Dunas has installed blue insulators from telephone poles. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

May 9, 2014 7:29 AM PT

The home garden of Laura Morton, which will be featured on the May 10 Open Days Garden Conservancy tour.

A water fountain is lined with Moroccan tiles and filled with reed plants, fountain fish, butterfly koi and goldfish. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

In the backyard pool area, Miss Emma walks in front of an assortment of succulents planted in vintage Bauer ceramic pots. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A peaceful face stone is nestled in with rocks to create a “a magic moment,” Laura Morton says. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Look closely at the pavers surrounding the pool and you’ll find the landscape designer has embedded leftover items from her travels: pearls, shells, marbles and African beads. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A Moroccan door is framed by a blue strip of color and climbing bougainvillea. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Detail of an anenomium ‘Sunburst.’ (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A Chinese antique kang bed in the side shady garden is surrounded by bamboo. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A former jewelry designer, Laura Morton decorated this bust with jewelry and succulents. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A new al fresco dining area with whitewashed paneling is new since the garden was last on the Garden Conservancy tour. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Laura Morton prunes a grapefruit tree in her backyard. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A single rosebud and orchid float in a pink quartz bowl. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Orchids extend to a glazed sconce from Tunisia on the poolside pavilion. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

African blue sage attracts bees near the pool. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Single succulents grow in vintage Bauer pots. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A lantern Laura Morton found in a Marrakesh market is installed on the outdoor pavilion in her backyard. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Laura Morton prunes an “Angel Red” pomegranate espalier. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Miss Emma relaxes outside the poolside lounge. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

Laura Morton likes to plant one succulent in a planter. “I don’t like bouquets,” she says. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The original concrete 1921 house, left, was designed as an earthquake-proof dwelling. Architect Frank Gehry later designed an addition, right, that is now used as a studio for Laura Morton’s photographer husband Jeff Dunas. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A pendant from Marrakesh hangs in the middle of a citrus grove. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

A natural gas fire-pit with sand illuminates the outdoor lounge. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)

The lounge area of the Moroccan-inspired pavilion illuminated at dusk. Laura Morton installed a satellite dish in the roof of the pavilion to dramatic effect. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times)