Country in the city: Lakewood Home Tour this weekend

This house on Bobolink Drive shows what can be done on a small city lot to create a sense escape from the hubbub of daily life with jobs, small kids and constant activity. The covered porch on the garage was a great place to sit and relax, but there was nothing to look at and nothing to engage the kids in nature. 

So we added a round pond that creates both: a running track for the kids to race around, as well as a rich source of entertainment with fish, plants, dragonflies, birds and water. For adults, the porch provides a peaceful place to contemplate the reflections of the sky in the pond, or gather with drinks and friends. The blue-grey of the Arizona cypresses echoes the color of the house, and native grasses will fill in to provide rustling noises, movement and food and shelter for birds.

There's enough lawn to play on--this yard will never be a soccer pitch anyway--and hollies and narrow live oaks will grow to screen neighboring buildings. The gravel drive keeps runoff to a minimum while providing a 'country lane' feel. And the hens love it to scratch and roll in it--be sure to say hello when you visit!