Kati and David Timmons didn’t have a grand scheme when they tackled their typical older tract lot. Their garden’s personality, and its raised beds front and back, emerged one plant, one shared shovel, and one rock at a time.

This Green Garden award-winner actually begins in the front yard. When they bought their house, Sherry Cordry and Paul Mair stepped out everyday to a front lawn and imposing row of photinias. Now, the front yard is more than a pass-through to get the newspaper. They’ve turned it into a front garden lounge, encircled with waterwise plants that attract wildlife. They also attract the neighborhood, who’s made this front yard their favorite bistro and place to hangout with their children.

Environmental Survey Consulting ecologist and landscape designer David Mahler worked with a family to restore the land to its native heritage, a stone’s throw away from mowed lawns.

In their garden renovation to a low-water native plant design, Bobbie Tsukahara and Gil Starkey wanted to attract the three B’s: butterflies, birds, and bees. Working with Judy Walther and Troy Nixon from Environmental Survey Consulting, their organic, low-maintenance garden contributes to nature’s gifts, rather than depleting them.

On a rocky, ski-slope hillside, garden designer Glee Ingram restored wildlife-friendly native plants after excavating overrun exotic invasives.

Cool off your garden and the wildlife with Terrie and Michael Lumsden’s Austin Pond Society tour preview.

In a small space and equally small budget, Travis County Master Gardener Link Davidson and neighbor Wendy Brennan recycled materials to enclose her new soothing, low-care garden. Get Link’s tips to eradicate rampaging bamboo in favor of diverse wildlife plants.

When master gardener Randy Case updated his 1950s home, he gave it a new look outside, too. He turned a yard of grass and foundation plants into arenas of gardens and living spaces.

In Smithville, Mitzi VanSant framed her 1920′s Arts and Crafts bungalow with fragrant, heirloom plants, vegetable gardens, and a secret garden to create special memories for her grandchildren. Antique roses cover rose arbors to frame formal pathways.

Explore design concepts with Tom Spencer and Sharon St. John, Horticulture and Landscape Design Coordinator at Austin Community College.