Truly Tiny Gardens

When Andrew's mom relocated to California from New Mexico (to be near her other son and his family) she purchased a manufactured home in a small 55+ community. We've been there a few times now, but this is the first time I noticed her neighbor's succulent gardens. I love it when the need surround yourself with plants is expressed so exuberantly—and in such a small space! 
Most of the tiny gardens were a mix of in-ground and container plantings.
This one was definitely a minimalist style...
Lots of color here, with no flowers.
That's a happy Pachypodium lamerei.
Cramscaping!
My eye was first drawn to the Agave americana 'Mediopicta Alba' but then I started scanning around all the other beauties.
The stapelia bloom wasn't attracting any flies.
The stressed coloration of the aloes was magnificent.
There were actually two 'Mediopicta Alba', I wonder if one was a pup of the other? I also wonder what happened to the lower leaves? Perhaps the were trimmed to allow more planting space?
Agave cornelius, I believe?
I don't know aloes well enough to make an ID on this colorful creature.
But I know that's an Agave desmettiana hugging the mailbox support pole.
The garden extends across the driveway to several large containers.
I wonder if the opuntia pads are going out, or coming in?
Is the plastic bottle a watering mechanism?
Can you see the lizard on the ground in front of the low planter with feet? 
There were so many lizards scurrying around everywhere, but they blended in so well (and moved so fast) it was nearly impossible to get a photo of one.

Picture perfect cactus!

This was a head-scratcher. Why the need to elevate the containers so much? Are they keeping the mailbox upright?
The final garden I photographed was packed with cool plants.

I was just a few days to early to see the first bloom open on the tall cactus.

This one also included an assortment of collected rocks.
A great little opuntia full of character...
And big barrels!

These tiny gardens were so packed with well loved plants, such a pleasure to see.
During our quick trip I managed to squeeze in a visit to Lotusland, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden and the Ventura Botanical Gardens. 
There will be more SoCal garden goodness sprinkled in over the coming weeks (and months?)...