Dear Juan,

Hello Juan, a.k.a Mr. Rios, a.k.a. landscaper, a.k.a. my friend!  Please accept this note as a little token of my appreciation for turning this:

Into:

And then into:

And then of course, into:

Jen found Juan and his crew when she was looking for someone to come out and do her yard.  In true "little sister" fashion, I let her do the hard work finding him, and then... copied her!  She jokingly calls herself an elitist for having the landscaper come.  I do not think she is an elitist, I think she is a genius!

I cannot believe how great the yard looks.  I love it!  I also love that I now know what dogwood trees, nandinas, hydrangeas, day lillies, pierris, rhododendron, azaleas, hinoki cypress, and maple trees look like from the comfort of my own back window!  (Notice that I didn't say "roses." Yep.  It is true.  I had him rip out those dreadful roses that have been plaguing me since we moved in!  Hated them!  I told you, Steve.  I really am not a "rose-type" of girl!)