Been riding from and gardening in the same lot for 30 years next month, but it never occurred to me to compare the two. Pictures next time i find the digital camera, maybe...it drifts around the house popping up here and there.
As for your pictures: They'd put me in jail if my garden looked like that. I live in the desert, and while water isn't officially rationed, you get VERY hard looks from the neighbors if you exceed the prescribed lushness level.
I grew up in a wet part of California, and it took awhile to get used to the xeriscape look, but i find I prefer it now. I appreciate the work and planning that went into your yard, but my first thought when i saw the pictures was "claustrophobic."