Magic Makeovers
Seeking charm, ease or simply something new, we reinvent our gardens
A friend told me recently, "When I turned 50, my garden turned on me." That's one good reason for a garden makeover. As gardeners gray, there's a clear trend toward simplifying our outdoor spaces. Younger families don't want to spend all their time working in the garden. Elaborate backyard perennial borders are so over.
The gardeners in this issue re-thought and re-made their gardens for a variety of reasons. Whether the makeovers were spurred by active, growing children, the never-ending quest for less maintenance or plants outgrowing their bounds, you'll be impressed by the creativity and hard work that went into them.
Tamara and Wayne Wilson wanted their overgrown old garden to match the charm of their house, so they not only rejuvenated the lawn and the plants but carved out areas for entertaining outdoors. In the process, they became gardeners.
Kristin and Len Weber, too, sought a fresh look as well as functionality from their old garden, where junipers dominated all else. While the transformation didn't turn them into gardeners, they love the new look that suits both the house and this active family's sociability.
Greg Sliman and Tim Towner just wanted to find their front door beneath the laurels. What they got, with the aid of designer Paul Repetowski, is a garden rich in unusual plants and as stylish as their mid-century-Modern home.
When my garden turned on me, I sold it and started over. Perhaps that's why I'm so impressed with the vision and perseverance of these garden owners.
Peggy Anderson's story may be the ultimate in makeovers. At 84 years old, Anderson is smitten with her new garden, which used to be the neighborhood P-Patch. If the nature of gardens is to change, we may as well make the most of that. Anderson's story is an inspiration to keep on gardening through all the changes.
Valerie Easton is a Seattle freelance writer and contributing editor for Horticulture magazine. Her e-mail address is valeaston@comcast.net.
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