(Read to the end of the article for advice on redoing your own garden.)

All I wanted was two sets of French doors and a nice garden," says Kay Minor of the 1929 bungalow she and husband Peter bought 10 years ago. Like many young couples, they had moved into an older house with a garden in desperate need of rejuvenation. Kay and Peter knew there was potential hiding under all those weeds and volunteer trees.

"We had just moved in, there were unpacked boxes still standing in the kitchen, but I had all my bulbs planted," confesses Kay, who comes from a farming background. "I feel like I'm not grounded when I'm not digging." With bulbs safely in the ground, the couple began the deliberate process of planning their garden.

WATCH, PLAN, AND PLANT
Kay advises that you "take time to observe the plants and conditions before you start removing and pruning." One of the benefits of moving into an older home is that there are often established trees that provide shade and a framework on which to build. There was a huge oak tree in the front yard of their Charlotte home, plus a magnificent Yoshino cherry and a few dogwoods in the back. They pulled up volunteer trees so they could plant choice ones such as Japanese maples and more evergreens such as boxwoods for winter structure. Kay and Peter planned for their favorite activities--bird watching, eating outside, napping in the shade, and gardening.

PUT YOUR PERSONALITY IN IT
Kay's resourcefulness and creativity are apparent throughout the garden. Her use of found art from antiques shops and flea markets reflects a whimsical style that is perfect for a cottage garden. She dressed up an old storage building in the backyard with window boxes and salvaged shutters, and she put a large mirror between the windows to reflect the garden. Sap buckets and a folk-art piece add bright color. With the addition of a rustic table and chairs, this shady spot is now a sitting area.

A narrow space between their house and the neighbor's called for a creative solution. "I didn't want a wall, but I did want something pretty to look at," says Kay. A very open fence of arched metal trellises between cedar posts supports clematis vines and Confederate jasmine that twine around the posts and through the trellises. Anchored by the new fence, the side garden is filled with perennials, annuals, bulbs, and miniature roses. In winter, she plants colorful salad greens and cool-weather annuals, so the garden provides year-round enjoyment for Kay and her neighbors. Birdhouses hang all along the fence. She has even found tiny nests made from pieces of rosemary and lavender that the birds gathered from the garden.

One feature that captures every visitor's eye is the unusual water garden. It's made from an old bathtub Kay rescued from the back of Peter's nephew's truck on its way to a secondhand store. Her first thought was to sink it into the ground as a pool. "But everyone has an in-ground pool," explains Kay, so they left it on top of the soil.

Peter wired and plumbed a showerhead for the fountain, and they placed the tub along the path to the back garden. Kay filled the pool with plants and fish, then placed stepping-stones and plants around the base. It quickly became an attraction for neighborhood children, who loved to stand on the stones and peer into the pool. One night an enterprising raccoon unplugged the tub's stopper, drained the water, and then helped itself to a fish buffet. Undaunted, Kay placed the pump housing and several heavy stones over the plug to prevent a recurrence. Last year, a huge bullfrog took up residence in the pond, much to Kay's delight.

Kay knows change is the essence of gardening and keeps thinking of new things to try. For example, she and Peter decided that the back lawn looked like a dance floor. When they spotted a rusty metal sculpture with two figures that seemed to be dancing, they bought it. They then covered the small lawn to make a flagstone patio and installed the sculpture in the center. "I spent so much time trying to get grass to grow in the shade and tip-toeing around," reasons Kay. "A hard surface I could walk on made more sense."

The garden is filled with interesting artwork that the couple has collected, much of it metal sculpture such as the airplane that marks the beginning of the side fence. Its propeller spins gently when the wind blows. A fantastic concrete container decorated with broken bits of colorful pottery is another favorite piece. But the most interesting work of art is a large metal figure Kay calls "The Cleaning Fairy." It lives on the back porch and, as Kay related to her 4-year-old niece, "while we're asleep she comes in and cleans the house." When her niece expressed concern about the fairy coming into her room, she had to admit it was just make-believe.

The front yard presented Kay with a challenge. Huge oak trees towered over it, so she made a welcoming shade garden with water for birds and benches for people. At the street entrance, she installed a small section of fencing on each side of the walk, just enough to discourage dogs from ruining her boxwoods. The fence is now covered with small-leaved ivy. "When people come by walking their dogs, I just smile," says Kay.

Passing neighbors soon noticed Kay's flair and requested help with their own gardens. Now she does garden consulting as a part-time job. Kay's imaginative concepts are an inspiration to others. Her yard is frequently featured on local garden tours. She is now searching for a spot in the neighborhood to start a community vegetable garden. "I think it would be wonderful to get older people and children involved," proposes Kay, always seeking hidden potential in everyday things and spaces.

KAY'S ADVICE FOR GARDEN REDOS