Gardeners tend to have unique sources of inspiration for designing their spaces: recreating the essence of their grandma’s victory garden or perhaps styling a flower-filled cottage garden that recalls a trip to England. Or going for practicality: choosing to establish a native garden that reduces water use and attracts pollinators.

Carol Kent’s astounding succulent garden in Clairemont is very specific. As a young woman in San Diego, she worked from 1975 to 1990 on a scuba diving boat, including time as captain. So, unsurprisingly, her passion for the ocean led to creating an “undersea garden” on her quarter acre. If you love the ocean—and succulents—you’ll want to take in how she designed and carried out her vision for the garden—and view the gorgeous photos from Nelvin Cepeda—in my new story for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Home and Garden section.