This is a solid direction for Phoenix. Rock planters with light mounding make a big difference here, especially for drainage and keeping plants off flat, heat-reflecting ground. Coral fountain grass and blue agave work well visually, and they handle Zone 9b conditions without needing babysitting. I like spreading the mounding through the yard instead of keeping everything flat — it breaks up the space and makes the planting feel intentional instead of scattered. Landscape lighting along the paths and around the larger agave or boulders would also look great at night without adding much maintenance.
I put together a quick visual to balance the rock planters, mounding, and plant placement so it all flows better across the yard. Take a look at these ideas I put together: https://app.neighborbrite.com/s/Ot5KHPCxO2M
