When Martin Colver suggested installing a cactus garden in an unused area of his parent's Costa Mesa backyard, his father, Frank, was uncertain. Planting the cactus would mean removing a 25-year-old pomegranate tree.

Once his son installed the garden, however, Colver's reservations quickly disappeared.

"The resulting garden is really worthwhile," said Frank Colver. "Until my son put the cactus garden in, we rarely used that space. Now we sit out there more than any other area of the yard. It's surprising what a peaceful feeling the garden generates."

When they hear the words cactus garden, "many people picture the Mojave desert and a barren wasteland," said Martin Colver, a groundsworker for Newport Beach Parks Division. "There are actually many different types of cactus, and they can make a stunning display."

Over 2,000 species of cactus exist, and they come in many shapes and sizes, agreed Richard Hipp, owner of the House of Cactus in Stanton.

"Some cactus are very large growing ones that make a good showpiece in the landscape, while others are miniatures more applicable for a small garden or containers. Some grow like trees, with branches, while others have a more traditional barrel shape."

Many cactus flower in spring and summer, some even blooming at night and closing before morning. Night bloomers tend to be fragrant.

Most cactus grow well here, taking to the warm, mild weather. They are also very low-maintenance plants, rarely requiring pruning.

In his parents' cactus garden, Colver installed more than 40 species and varieties of striking cactus, including a golden barrel cactus (Echinocactus grusonii), which is a dark lime green with yellow spines and, when in bloom, a yellow fuzzy top. Nearby he put a red barrel cactus (Ferocactus stainesii), which is a dark green with red spines. For height, Colver planted an 8-foot candelabra tree (Euphorbia ingens). The tall succulent has a main trunk and several branches projecting from the top.

To add to the peaceful feel, Colver installed a fountain and a bench. He and his father hauled in a number of multicolored granite rocks.

The younger Colver became interested in cactus about seven years ago, when he and his father took a camping trip to Baja, where a variety of very large cactus grow. After the trip, he began collecting large cactus, purchasing from nurseries across Southern California and special cactus plant sales.