Is L.A. ready for front-yard veggie gardens? This couple is leading the way

A miniature, house-shaped book-lending library encourages neighborhood interaction. The Glasers saw a similar library at last year’s Mar Vista Green Garden Showcase, and looked up the plans online.

Linda Glaser harvests food from one of two raised beds in her newly landscaped front yard in Beverlywood. The garden, designed by Christy Wilhelmi, includes drought tolerant plants, California natives and edibles.

A permeable bioswale collects water from the atmosphere and nearby rain barrels.

Hardy rockroses in the Glaser’s new garden.

Linda Glaser hand waters her vegetables using water collected in one of four rain barrels. Glaser said the barrels fill easily without consistent rain and within an hour given a heavy rain.

Their daughter’s swing still hangs for neighborhood kids to use. The Glasers paved the area underneath the pecan tree with permeable decomposed gravel.

Drought tolerant lilac verbena attracts butterflies to the Glaser’s garden.

Lavender attracts bees and butterflies.

Rose-shaped echeveria succulents require little water.

Swiss chard.

Sunny yellow coreopsis thrives despite heat or lack of water.

Lavender next to a sign urging others to be water wise in Linda Glaser’s new garden.   (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Yellow yarrow adds to the natural look of the Glaser’s new garden.

Linda Glaser harvests a variety of fresh carrots from her new garden.

Two large raised vegetable beds, which the Glasers hand water, are bursting with beets, lettuces, garlic, Swiss chard, shown here, carrots and tomatoes.

Edibles such as beets are conveniently located a short walk from the front door.

The drought tolerant ground cover dymondia margaretae spreads between pavers.