The front lawn is tidy and welcoming, but Carol Spindler's world lies behind the backyard gate. On an average-size suburban lot in the Niles neighborhood of Fremont, a lot that could be yours or mine, she has created a serene haven. Paths of concrete and brick wind among beds of perennials, shade-lovers and roses. Orioles serenade from a nearby tree, drawn by a special feeder.
Finches dangle upside down on feeders.
It's time to get naked. That seems to be the message emanating from certain quarters of the design world. Renewed interest in see-through furnishings and fixtures is shining a fresh light on the possibilities of transparency. Thin when plants are three inches high. Pinch growing tips on annuals at planting time to produce bigger and better blooms later.