By Patty Gaebe

How many of us would love a low-maintenance yard, which serves as an extension of our home, and functions as an additional entertainment space? After consulting with Steve Cox of Plant Systems Inc., regarding a yard design with a pool, the ideas evolved into what you seen now.

The pathway to the home is a recycled cement walkway with charcoal grout and brick edging with a matching mailbox. The expanded porch holds three large pots and a bench for guests to linger. These drip-irrigated pots contain a lace-leaf Japanese maple, variegated flax, and sago palm. The front planter area includes red Japanese maples, azaleas, carpet roses and other perennials. A trio of ginkgos with an under-planting of annuals in the cutout helps give depth to the yard. Chinese pistache trees shade the driveway, dwarf raphiolepis, pink jasmine (on the trellis) and roses make the entry to the backyard smell good.

Through the gate you can't miss the elaborate shade structure for the two dogs, Fang and Scarlet. The dog run with the see-through gate is also designed with them in mind. The view through the gate offers a first look at the open-beamed lattice patio structure that sets the entire yard off. The stamped concrete accents the angled, cultured slate seat wall anchored with large pots planted with purple fountain grass, prostrate rosemary, blue festuca, variegated geranium, and a bat-face cuphea for a firecracker-like effect. Directly opposite, a large pot holds an angel trumpet, more variegated geranium and bougainvillea to spill over the side. The coastal redwoods, multi-branching Chinese pistache, and red Japanese maple help frame and shade the central fountain. Annuals and perennials around this area help keep the yard colorful all year.

The swing is invitingly close to the shade garden with a pot planted with Japanese flowering maple and Richard's favorite "cigar" cuphea. The complete outdoor kitchen with B.B.Que and dining area are the core of this yard that is set up the cooking and entertaining. The small wall fountain can be seen and heard through the house. A pygmy date palm in the basket-weave cement pot includes fiber-optic grass with variegated ground ivy.

Flanking the entry to the back garden are matching pots holding Kumquats with variegated strawberries. Creeping thyme, lambs ear, penstemon and fairy lilies around the broken concrete stepping-stones make the journey to the raised vegetable bed and the meditation corner an adventure. The custom trellis holds an espaliered lemon and orange.

Enchanting as this yard is in the daylight, it becomes magical at night with the extensive night-lighting. Notice also the many candles and the first "decorative" item purchased for the yard on the post at the screen door. Don't YOU just wish YOU were invited for dinner?