Creating a beautiful Poolside landscape requires planning.  Here in Southern California, a lush tropical landscape is well within reach.  

Here are some ides for creating a Tropical Backyard Oasis.

– Plant Lush Layers

– Use Water Features

– Create Stone Accents

– Find Tropical Plants that will thrive in your area.

– Use plants that will grow to different heights for a natural look

– Incorporate color

To add to the beauty of your pool area, why not create a hummingbird-attracting habitat?
Herbs, flowering shrubs, dwarf trees, and vines all can be used to create an ideal tiered habitat from ground level to 10 feet or more.
Provide lots of space between plants to give hummingbirds enough room to hover and navigate from flower to flower.
Hummingbirds love water, especially if it is moving. A gentle, continuous spray from a nozzle or a sprinkler hose is perfect for a bath on the fly.
Hummingbirds do not have a keen sense of smell and rely on bright colors to find their food.
They are particularly fond of red and are often observed investigating feeders with red parts, red plant labels, red thermometers, and even red clothes on a gardener. Note: Do not use red dye in a hummingbird feeder; there is concern that it may harm the birds. Instead, use plain, clear sugar water (1 part white sugar mixed with 4 parts water). The birds love it! If your feeder does not have red on it, attach a red label or other item to attract them.
Brightly colored flowers that are tubular hold the most nectar, and are particularly attractive to hummingbirds. These include perennials such as bee balms, columbines, daylilies, and lupines; biennials such as foxgloves and hollyhocks; and many annuals, including cleomes, impatiens, and petunias.
Find more tips for introducing hummingbirds to your garden here.
An often–asked question is, “Why do hummingbirds hum?” We really aren’t sure, but suspect that it might be because they don’t know the words.

SOME PLANTS THAT ATTRACT HUMMINGBIRDS:

Choose varieties in red and orange shades. Note** Many of the plants that attract hummingbirds also attract butterflies.

Beard tongue
Bee balm       
Butterfly bush
Clove pink Dianthus
Columbine Aquilegia
Coral bells
Daylily
Larkspur
Desert candle Yucca
Iris
Flowering tobacco
Foxglove
Lily
Petunia
Pincushion flower
Scarlet sage Salvia
Honeysuckle
Soapwort
Summer phlox

Plant these and enjoy the all around atmosphere that a well landscaped pool area provides.