Do you love flowers and pretty variegated bushes in your landscape"  Here's how you can have them even in the desert in really hot climates. 
When we moved to Arizona years ago it was in the middle of August and I thought I was going to die from all the heat.  I also am not a huge fan of cactus, so this really didn't look like how I wanted my surroundings to look.  
I told my husband if we had to move here (for his job) then I wanted an Old English Garden.  He looked at me like I was crazy, but said he would do his best. (He's a Master Gardener so I wanted miracles.)  Well, not exactly an Old English Garden, but he did create a beautiful yard with tons of pretty flowers.

Even our pool was designed to look like a pond with a waterfall.   When we bought this house 2 years ago of course a pool was #1 on my list for the back yard.  It was completed in time for our first summer and it is my happy place where I love to be.  These tiny little plants looked so small at first.  But - - -- - - -
Just look at them now.  Those tiny bushes grew and started glowing with tons of pretty flowers and color.  The beds are filled in with some wonderful perennials and annuals that also have tons of blooms.  What a difference a year can make. We even had to cut some of them way back this spring.

Don't be afraid to mix some tropical plants in for a little contrast.
The bright orange and yellow bushes are Lantana th...