Eileen and Bob Mandilakis won second place in this year's Westlake In Bloom garden contest for their poolside patio garden, their own little getaway. (Photos by Bob Perry)

Award winner rivals high-end resort
By Thea Steinmetz
Gardening
Published Aug. 30, 2006

Imagine yourself at a high-end resort on a lovely August day. The swimming pool is sparkling clean with the sunshine playing off of the blue-tiled interior. There are flowers everywhere and from some rocks (yes, I said rocks) come the melodious tones of an Italian opera. Sounds like a pretty good vacation to me.

But this not a choice resort, rather, it is the backyard of Eileen and Bob Mandilakis. It’s also one of the award-winning gardens of the Westlake in Bloom competition. The decision to enter was not their choice, but a friend of their 21-year-old son, Kevin, handed them an entry form and said “it is due today by 5 o’ clock, so you better fill it out right away.”

Their two daughters, Christine, 24, and 16-year-old Kimberly, also encouraged their parents to go for it. Now, the plaque proclaiming the garden a winner stands close to the front entrance.

The winning entry has three distinct features that blend harmoniously into the overall design. A stylishly designed wood deck with soft curves rises only a few inches above the adjoining cement. An attractive leaf stencil runs all along the edge of the deck as a surprise. It also serves as a reminder to step down. A massive table and oversized benches add a Tuscan feel to the deck and get frequent use at family gatherings. A generic patio furniture set just would not do in these chic surroundings.

Stepping off the deck, painted cement covers a substantial area next to the pool. The tawny ocher paint used to color the cement was further enhanced by Bob, using a sponge painting technique. The overall effect of the faux finish is grand and a great deal less expensive than  stone alternatives.

The third noteworthy feature is the pool. Even glancing at it brings on the feeling that the water is issuing an invitation to jump in. Having seen many backyard pools, this one deserves an award for how well it fits into the overall design of the luxurious space.

The scheme includes several oversized planters that divert the eye from the horizontal to the vertical. Eileen mentioned that the abundant petunias are in their third year. They seed themselves and make a return appearance in the spring. That does not happen too often in our climate. Beautifully clipped topiary arborvitae are centered in the large pots, further enhancing the resort feeling.

A delightful arbor arches over end of the front driveway, inviting one to enter the personalized space that awaits in the back. The structure was designed after a similar one seen on a trip to South Carolina and now has a graceful porcelain vine embracing its rungs.  Even though Westlake can no longer boast of wide-open spaces, one gets a feel for them when passing through the arbor.  The reason is that a retaining basin lies on the other side of the rear fence. With the generous measurements of roughly 100 feet deep and 400 feet long, only the trees around the edges are visible. Privacy here will never be a concern.

Bob wants it known that he has no use for iffy plants. He wants them sturdy and says: “I try to almost have a grandma country garden. I don’t want to baby delicate stuff in pots. Our relatives in Italy have no time to weed so they plant close together.” For this reason cosmos, snapdragons and petunias are given space because they self-seed.

When the family travels, especially to a foreign country, their souvenirs always turn out to be seeds. The kitchen table then becomes their planting bench.

The complexion of the garden has changed since the Westlake in Bloom judges have come to view this patio garden. There were masses of white Shasta daisies, Asiatic lilies in glorious colors and the show-stopping, tall and slender crocosmia, known to some as montbretia. Now, the colors have changed, suggesting the onset of autumn. Black-eyed Susans, planted en masse, make a strong, golden statement. The coleus has matured and the blue petunias still lend their fervent color. The gaillardias make a statement with their coloring of yellow and red bands on each flower petal. The hostas are beginning to lose their spectacular façade, but still cover the ground well. Their once-pristine leaves are displaying some insect damage. The roses are still lovely and the fragrance by the small wrought-iron gazebo is delightful.

With an Italian background on one side of the family and Greek heritage on the other, ethnic cooking is a way of life. For this, vegetables and herbs are also given space on one side of the house. Greek oregano is claiming a large patch. Basil and thyme are also used frequently. There is some discussion about the invasive mint at the corner of the property, but Bob insists on needing it for his Greek culinary feasts.

There are a couple other invasive plants tolerated in the garden. One is sweet woodruff that is kept well within bounds and the other is the Japanese lantern.

It is impossible to cover this garden adequately. At present it serves as a healing garden. Bob has faced a serious health crisis and is still dealing with it. To look at his garden and to be able to work with nature has sustained him at this difficult point in time. Our very best wishes for a swift and complete recovery go out to him.