Liz and Wally's backyard was patchy lawn, clearly not thriving in the shade of the humongous grove of outdated camellia trees flanking the chain link fenced yard. It was not an inviting yard to sit in, and offered no color other than the winter blooms.

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In their 70's, they wanted a low-maintenance garden to sit in to enjoy the plants with their rescue dog, Petey, have their kids and grandkids over for summer dinners, and grow year round foliage and flowers for Liz's hobby of Ikebana, Japanese floral arrangement.

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The design process was very collaborative, with Liz saving magazine clippings of plants, shopping with me at the nursery, and frequent turns through the patio catalogues to find the right fit for them. This could be their last house and garden, so it was essential to get it right! We decided to blend three circular paver patios into one long interconnecting patio which doubles as "built-in" pathways. The patio occupies the majority of the backyard, cutting down on the amount of plants and maintenance required, while lending an organic feel with its curved shape in their very rectangular shaped yard. Pavers are a more accessibility friendly material than flagstone or gravel, which can cause tripping or require more frequent sweeping.

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The plants selected boast seasonal bloom color with a majority of evergreen shrubs and trees for year-round interest. Plenty of ground covers were added to occupy the soil, preventing weeds and the need to mulch as frequently. We also opted for planting larger trees so they could enjoy them right away rather than waiting to see the grow. Irrigation was put in by Prestige to ensure plant survival without arduous hand watering.