Backyard Paradise
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 Niki Sullivan - The Tacoma News Tribune
It started out as a simple garage expansion for Jim Waterman and his wife, Niki.
But Jim started thinking: If they built a detached three-car garage, he could have space for an art studio.
The next thing they knew, the Watermans were happily in the middle of an ambitious remodel that resulted in a new garage, Jim's studio and a private courtyard with a fountain, koi pond, plenty of garden art, pots and lush plants.
While such a big project isn't for everyone, the gardening enthusiasts were ready for it.
"We decide that instead of having a vacation home, we'd have it in our own backyard," Jim said.
And they've enjoyed it: On summer nights, they head to the backyard with their two golden retrievers to have a glass of wine and take in the view.
"Luckily, they're not diggers," he said of the dogs.
When the Watermans went to do their dream remodel, they did things their way.
They wanted a private retreat that would maximize the small space and showcase the plants and garden art they've created over the years.
First, they created a private courtyard with an electric gate. For the driveway, they opted for stamped concrete, which looks more like Old World cobblestone streets than a modern sidewalk.
Inside the courtyard, they matched their new garage with their Tuscan-style home using stucco. They paved the deck on top of the garage with Italian tiles to complete the look.
But the backyard's real beauty is in the potted Tanyosho pines, a 45-year-old black dwarf pine, bushy hostas with heart-shaped leaves, baby tears lining the shaded path, water lilies in the fountain, and hundreds of other plants.
At about 30 by 80 feet, their backyard isn't large -- especially with the garage and driveway -- but the Watermans used a bit of optical illusion to make it seem larger.
"We used big stuff to upgrade the scale," Jim said. "We've got a lot in here."
And, because they're not interested in filler like beauty bark, they prefer intense planting, which has an added bonus.
"That's the thing about weeds: If you have enough plants, there's not enough space for weeds," he said.
Plus, since many of their plants are in pots, they can move them when they want a change of pace, meaning they have a versatile garden.
One of Jim's favorite parts of the garden is the koi pond.
"I come home on lunch, let the dogs out, then feed them and feed the fish," he said.
"To me, they're kind of like floating jewels," he said, as the giant orange, black and white fish meandered in the pond below.
And there are even more hidden gems in the Watermans' garden - in the form of garden art.
"Gardening is not just about plants," he said.
To that end, they have a sculpture of twin cherubs eating grapes, a fat, round frog down the path, and a fairy, among others.
But they do love the plants: Niki said she and Jim, a floral buyer, are usually the first ones in line every spring when local nurseries get new inventory.
After all that remodeling, are they hooked on the next big project?
"The house would be the next project," Niki said. |
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