“My yard is an open, empty space,” Jane Flint said, “and it’s ready for a makeover!” The El Dorado Hills resident imagines a tranquil, beautifully landscaped space. And now that she’s got the physical plan, her bare, wide-open yard will soon catch up with her imagination.
Jane, an EID customer for nearly 7 years, recently won second prize in the Ultimate Garden Makeover contest, sponsored by the Regional Water Association’s water efficiency program (RWEP). Jane’s name was randomly drawn for the prize, which includes a water-wise landscape plan professionally designed by a licensed landscape architect.
For contest eligibility, RWEP requires an emphasis on water-efficient design, so a lawn is not being installed. “I had a lot of ideas about what I wanted for the space, and the design I got reflected that,” said Flint. “The landscape will be low maintenance. It has a modest re-circulating water feature and some raised beds for a small vegetable garden.”
Joseph Pattin of Rocklin-based Garden Retreats met with Jane at her home to measure every angle and point of the yard, and asked her questions about her favorite plants, colors, and fragrances.
When Jane looks at her empty yard now, envisioning the plans in her mind’s eye, she sees the tranquil garden in vivid detail. The work of making it a reality begins soon. ♦
Above: Jane Flint and her son, Zach Mlenek, look over the plans for her future outdoor space.
Below: Jane’s yard is an empty canvas, soon to be transformed into a tranquil cottage garden retreat.
A delightful, “water-wise” garden-to-be in El Dorado Hills
October 5, 2007
