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.
And soon, she'll share her well-tended patch of earth with a parade of curious strangers. The Mediterranean country home of brick and stucco sits among gardens designed by the late landscape architect Jack Stafford, once a student of the famed Thomas Church. Landscape architect Steve Kikuchi of Half Moon Bay has developed the property's shade gardens during the past couple of years. The homeowner has a penchant for color, so the property is awash in a vibrant palette year-round. Visitors will miss most of the spring bulbs but will arrive in time for dogwoods, azaleas, rhododendrons, delphiniums and much more.