We helped write the book on drought tolerant gardening in Los Angeles! (Download link at the bottom of this post.)
DIY-friendly, this handy handbook can help you make your garden more resilient, less maintenance and resource intensive, and more beautiful all year. It includes sample garden designs, more than 500 drought tolerant plants specifically chosen for LA’s climate zones, and lot’s of Garden How-To info is included here.
Download the pdf at the County Green Building Program
sb garden design 
Nice job with this guide. Very impressed with its completeness and readability.
I recommend this book to my clients to help them understand how to build healthy soil.
The Simple Rain Garden Recipe, Making a Sponge and the Soil Lasagne Recipe
(aka Sheet Mulching), are three useful tools for every gardener to become aware of. annaharringtondesign.com
Thanks Anna!