Think a water-wise garden means cactus and succulents? Not necessarily. This month I'm digging into why fall is actually the best time to plant California natives, the clever ways they've adapted to survive our dry summers (one of them stores water in an enormous underground root — seriously, look up "manroot"), and why a chaparral-style garden might do more for you than a yard full of rocks and spines. Plus, a thought on what a slow-growing manzanita can teach us about patience with people.