Our hideout or place to get away is our deck and back-yard vista of shade gardens, sunny rock gardens, a fire pit, lower patio, grandchildren's playhouse, orbit lounger and old-fashioned tire swings. A snap of the camera and we can view multiple changes over the years.

After visiting my parents' "Up North" lake home for 26 years, my husband and I made a choice to develop a hideout closer to the Cities, to entertain family and friends. It ended up being our own back yard!

When we first moved near Lake Minnetonka, to our new home in Orono 33 years ago, we had our work cut out for us. The back yard was a field of tall weeds, but — with a plan and a dream — we changed our landscape to include a large lawn for summer activities and multiple shade and sunflower gardens, attracting birds, butterflies and wildlife.

In retrospect, this has been good therapy and has kept us healthy. From our deck we can see the colorful dahlias in "Grandpa's Garden." We had a boulder garden built, where we now can enjoy our own plantings rambling among the rocks. We are reminded of our first contributions to this landscape. The very first plants we received were from my husband's parents and their legacy of gardening and love of the outdoors. The first plant we bought was from Kelly & Kelly Nursery in Long Lake. The barn playhouse was purchased near Battle Lake, while we visited friends just a few miles from my parents' lake home. An arbor and footbridge, designed and built by my brother in his Northfield wood shop, were transported here in pieces and constructed onsite.

With seven active grandchildren who live in the Twin Cities, we enjoy having these youngsters over for lazy summer days and playing with their cousins. We, in turn, are available to travel a relatively short distance to attend sporting events and other family activities. We don't take this beautiful area around Lake Minnetonka for granted. We are grateful to live here.

KAREN PEDERSON, ORONO