b"Our garden has beenan ongoing laborof love for 20 yearsand counting.The first thing I spotted in the backyard of our more than 80-year-old California Spanish-style house was the decrepit arbor that seemed to cover most of the space. There wasn't a single blade of grass, but there was plenty of concrete. To get from the front of the house to the back, we had to follow a narrow dirt path; but it only led to a hint of a garden with just a rubber tree and a Blackberry bush the size of Manhattan. On one occasion, I recall sitting at the start of the path, when suddenly I was struck by an idea for this garden, which was practically begging for attention. I sketched out my best version of a landscaping plan with an arbor winding around the property, leading into the backyard. Then, Nick and I picked out an Italianate fountain, which became the focal point of the backyard. We bought a beautiful new arbor to support our winding trumpet vine planted at the start of the path. Satisfied with our progress, it was time to begin the bigger projectit would become our secret garden. With our new arbor in place, both sides of the widening path beyond were adorned with a variety of colorful flowers, shrubbery, ferns and drought-resistant plants. Then we added decomposed granite, which really made the backyard feel so inviting. With the taller, mature trees adding a bit more privacy, I cannot tell you how happy I felt seeing this secret garden of ours slowly come to life. This truly was our own private oasis. Our garden has been an ongoing labor of love for 20 years and counting. It's our tranquil and peaceful hideaway that continues to mature and transform on its own schedule, with an encouraging and caring green thumb. Living near the Santa Monica Mountains, we get our fair share of critterscoyotes, skunks, squirrels, raccoons, owls, hawks, lots of bees and butterfliesperching on our trees, sampling our fruit, building their nests, or taking advantage of our fountain and its endless flowing water. It's like watching a magical universe go about its day within our own little paradise! We also discovered that two mini paths had been used for decades by various local wildlife. This backyard garden is my most significant achievementit is a personal, living and breathing work of art that continues to reward us with its beauty and sense of peace. When I sit back to take it all in, I can almost feel my father beside me, basking in the tranquility and results of our hard work. Sure, it was a challenge. But it was a welcome challenge, among many, that both Nick and I look forward to facing for many more years.17"