Landscape Architect Alternative

Goleta water has a link as well
https://www.goletawater.com/conservation/gdcenter
includes:
Waterwise site...irrigation, plant selection, mulch, California native plants and more
https://www.waterwisesb.org/
Rebates
Smart Landscape Rebate Program for residential and commercial Goleta Water District customers
https://www.goletawater.com/rebates-and-incentives/smart-landscape-rebate-program

The City of Santa Barbara provides free advice for water wise landscaping at this link. Hopefully the reader who asked can benefit. https://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/pw/resources/conservation/landscaping/default.asp

Visit the SB Botanic Garden, talk with the Nursery and visit the demonstration gardens. The Staff are most helpful and you will end up with plants native to the area and California while helping to protect our ecosystems and wildlife. It will be worth the effort and very relaxing to visit the garden.

As for Seaside nursery, they planted invasive feather grass which is very bad as it gets every where, in cracks in roads, side walks, other peoples yards and takes over native plant species in the wild. It even kept popping up after it was pulled out. It has to be disposed of in a bag and in the garbage because the seeds will spread everywhere and take over.

Agree - a landscape designer is a great way to go if you need help with a vision. Also - Seaside Gardens in Carp is a fantastic resource. They have demonstration gardens planted on the property so that you can view mature plants in settings that are divided by various climate regions. Sometimes it's difficult to imagine what a plant will grow into, and as JAK mentions, you want to plant for the long term. Also - you want to plant for drought tolerance, as this area will never be otherwise. Have fun!

Be sure that whatever route you go you pay attention to the long term. I have seen many landscape architect dreams put into practice over the years and most look great until 1) trees grown beyond what the plan showed and need to be addressed because they are damaging adjacent buildings or infrastructure, 2) there is a drought and half of that beautiful water hungry stuff dies without constant (and unallowable) watering.

I have no idea o fhis availabilty, but he does gardens in schools too. Give him a call. Beautiful, productive and sustainable: http://www.ramseycronk.com/about-ramsey

Huge free brilliant source: Art Ludwig, Oasis Design (local and groundbreaking):
https://oasisdesign.net/

Are you in Goleta or Santa Barbara? Mesa or more inland? Plant Zone knowledge is essential. In parts of Goleta and on The Mesa it's likely you are Zone 9 and higher. In downtown Santa Barbara, eastside/westside/Lower Riviera you're 10a and higher.
Go on YouTube and find out about planting native plants and which ones you like. YouTube has loads of info on plants, landscape design. There may be some local gardening classes. Maybe visit Botanic Garden and ask them what thrives in your area. Then go online and see what makes you happy. Just remember: Plant Zone and also SPACING. Big mistake a lot of people make is crowding ---- make sure you plant things so there's room for growth. AND ---- what kind of soil do you have? What kind of system are you going to use to water things? Your "gardeners" are probably more about maintenance than knowledgeable about plants. Umm, hmm . . . Sometimes it pays to consult the experts.

Owner Chris Cullen at Montecito Landscape does free estimates.

A good time to install water systems like gray water from the clothes washer, drip irrigation, and rainwater direction/storage!

A landscape designer may be a better choice for a residential yard project.
When we updated our yard we stopped by a few homes we liked and got the names of the landscapers/ designers.

Yardzen is a virtual design service

A good gardener/landscaper will have some ideas for you. I always like asking, 'if this was your yard what would you do?'