Neighbors who watched the two-year transformation of this property from an ordinary suburban landscape into an extraordinary traffic-stopping colorful garden were pleased and surprised. The owner refigured the border surrounding the front garden, using the sunny area for a dramatic flower border of perennials and annuals, many of which he grew from seed.

This part of the garden contains a mass of color year round. The owner finds many plants self-sow and bloom on their own schedule. His annual mix includes zinnias, dianthus and cosmos. In spring he adds such bulbs as tulips, ranunculus and sparaxis mixed with perennial cistus, artemesia, and lavender. In the rear the owner began using some of the flowers he has begun to appreciate and love like snapdragons, phlox, verbena, and godetia.

The garden is an older classic garden brought up to date with new ideas and a pleasing combination of familiar and unusual plants - the best of the old and the new.