Blue fescue is a good choice for the low-water garden.
Verbena peruviana is a beautiful, drought-tolerant ground cover for large areas. Some gardens demand a big drink of water, but Northridge Gardens requires a mere sip. Open for group garden tours, educational classes and special events by reservation only by mid-September, Northridge Gardens was designed to demonstrate landscape techniques and materials for home gardens, along with golf courses, parks, schools and businesses. Droughts and global concerns about water usage have prompted the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and local water districts such as the Northridge Water District to create demonstration gardens. Several are open to the public in and around the Sacramento area.