Art, kids and wildlife bring harmony to a Long Beach garden

Th Glatstein’s garden is a haven for birds and butterflies. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

Nili, Ari and Talia Glatstein, left to right, play with their dog Bing Bong on a tube of variegated St. Augustine grass.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

Nili Glatstein climbs a Dombeya wallichii tree, left, with mom Allison and Talia Glatstein, right, in what was previously the driveway.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

Nili Glatstein, 7, colors on an easel with her dad, Jeremy Glatstein, right, in the backyard. Garden designer Dustin Gimbel created a custom planter, left, for Jeremy’s plant collections.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

The Glatstein backyard before it was redone.  (Redfin)

Ari Glatstein hangs with Bing Bong, center, and sister Talia Glatstein underneath a painting by garden designer, Dustin Gimbel.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

An Arbutus ‘Marina’ tree in the front garden. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

Thunbergia alata ‘Rose Sensation’ vines and Tillandsia decorate a shade structure designed to cool the back of the house.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

A flower from a Dombeya wallichii, also known as a Pink Ball Tree, which smells like cake batter.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

Two “bug hotels” in the side yard. A bug hotel is part garden art and part winter habitat for beneficial insects, the garden army that helps to keep the bad bugs under control.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

A bee collects pollen from a Salvia melissodora. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

The Glatstein front yard before the lawn was removed and replanted.  (Redfin)

The front yard is a haven for wildlife.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

A goldfinch is seen perched on a tree in the front yard. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

A fish pond filled with waterlilies is a refuge for ducks, birds and kids.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

Allison and Jeremy Glatstein in their backyard.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

Talia Glatstein plays in the gravel pit. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

A detail of an agave guadalajarana. (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)

An existing duck run connects to the newly redone backyard.  (Dania Maxwell/Los Angeles Times)