Purposely and skillfully designed to an inviting human scale, outdoor living areas provide the modern homeowner with a greater connection to nature, a physical zone of respite from the harried modern world – and a great investment towards the increased value of their property. Well-selected plants and design features can offer benefits ranging from shade to edible fruits to screening off visual blight. Quality materials used in walls, paths, or water features help create a sense of pride; what began as a vision now exists as a unique design statement that can be enjoyed for many years.