This call introduces us to understory plant communities, native plants, adapted and drought tolerant species, and how to select the appropriate plants for the microclimate and site, focusing on similar water, sun, and soil requirements. We were tasked with creating a Plant Palette of different succulents for full sun, part shade, and containers, requiring the number of plant species for each area as shown in the final client-facing presentation product below. I was inspired by the natural colors of California, particularly the chaparral which is a uniquely-California ecosystem, as it’s drought tolerant, resilient, yet vibrant, similar to succulents. There was an emphasis on choosing multiple species of different heights, widths, textures, and colors in order to create an overall aesthetically pleasing composition. Although I was already familiar with many plants, this class widened my arsenal of plants and communities to select from and combine, and the emphasis on selecting compatible plants has greatly improved the resilience and longevity of my real-life plant selections.