Monterrey, Aleppo, and Canary Island pine trees establish a cool microclimate at the Kaufman’s fire-resilient ranch in Sylmar. A cacti forest fills the front garden, and a lush, leafy back garden emerges as a desert oasis. Tucked behind a Catalina Cherry hedge sits a native habitat punctuated by cacti and petrified wood. Fragrant white, Cleveland, pitcher, and hummingbird sages scent the breeze. Trails of decomposed granite and naturalistic pavers meander through the delightful fragrance in tune with the trickle of water from bioswales, styled as active water features. Birds, from hummingbirds to hawks, call the garden home.