Native Californians Diane and Lou Alaman have proven their ability to adapt well, leaving the foggy, coastal Mediterranean growing conditions of Newport Beach and taking on the gardening challenges of humidity and biting bugs they found when relocating to Florida and Alabama. This vibrant, well-traveled couple, put down new roots in Pace, Florida and lived on their horse ranch there for eleven years before settling in Loxley five years ago. Diane, who had always wanted to become a Master Gardener, was so delighted to join the lively, knowledgeable group in Baldwin County to aid her in learning about local soil types, growing conditions and native plants. Able to adapt well, one is always able to create a soothing garden oasis wherever life circumstances take one. Graced with that ability and with the assistance of her ever-willing gardening partner Lou's strong back, Diane has created the wondrous beauty of a lush flower garden along with the joyous presence of the birds and butterflies she so adores.

Diane is quick to credit the generosity of several gardening friends-Barb Comstock, Ottie Dailey, Theresa Sims and Barbara Carlsen with donating nearly 20% of the lovely plant material she and Lou enjoy in their garden today. In the three years they have lived in their Loxley home, their garden has grown from a sparsely-sown lawn and row of boxwoods to colorful seasonal revelations and surprises including a small rose garden as well as climbing varieties and container roses, trellis-climbing wisteria, gorgeous eye-pleasing wave petunias, huckleberries-nurtured and thriving in their pot, crape myrtles, beautiful orange and red cannas, plentiful cosmos, hollyhocks and ginger. Many of these colorful containers are nestled along the couple's new back deck. Pots of variegated ivy compliment a whimsical garden angel who lounges along the deck rail. The deck, laden with its colorful bounty, spreads across the entire back of the house and provides views of the rose and wisteria arbor that Lou built for Diane. He has recently completed installing an irrigation system for their garden and willingly and "without grumping" digs and plants wherever Diane requests.

But Diane is not only interested in her own lawn and garden, she willingly shares her expertise and experience with her friends and neighbors, as well. She works with like-minded folks in her subdivision to improve the entire area. She established and continues to be involved with a neighborhood lake ecosystem at the entrance of their subdivision. She shares advice with neighbors who need help with gardening issues and is heavily involved with Smart Yards-a healthy gardening program which promotes safe water runoff, instruction in when to properly fertilize and with what, and effective mowing practices to insure healthy lawns. She is eagerly anticipating participating in the promotion of "shelter belt" systems. A shelter belt consists of trees and shrubs planted purposefully around the garden with the intention of protecting tender vulnerable plants from damaging coastal winds. Diane shares that a well-planned shelter belt can prevent up to 90% of the battering damage caused by winds. Tall, full trees such as firs, cedars and native poplars as well as shrubs such as azaleas provide excellent examples of good shelter belt choices.

Although Diane was introduced to gardening as a child when she helped her grandmother plant hollyhocks in the garden, she really became adept living in California under the capable tutelage of her beloved mother-in-law, Betty. While living with her son and daughter-in-law, Betty instructed Diane on the secrets of growing healthy roses in a garden consisting of over 200 thriving bushes. The ladies were so successful, they were asked by Jackson-Perkins rose growers to participate in a test program for the company's potential new roses. Every three or four months, new field roses arrived and the ladies were required to grow and care for them as well as provide valuable feedback consisting of how well the bushes thrived, the types of insects they attracted, and the number of thorns that appeared. Diane recalls that the nine years spent doing these trials were a time of much fun and sharing between the two gardening comrades. It was a time of learning, joyous companionship and a civic award or two as best gardener. Diane began what was to become a life-long love of roses then. She loves the diversity of color and blossoms they provide and particularly touts the beauty of her pale pink and white Lady Fairbanks. She enjoys growing roses in containers to allow relocation from intense heat and just to allow them to "peep in" from the front porch.

Diane shares that her best gardening advice was gleaned from her Master Gardening instructor who taught the value of getting your garden soil tested, having it analyzed and amending it appropriately before doing any planting. Diane has followed that advice with much success in her garden. She also adds banana peels and coffee grounds to her soil to add valuable nutrients for her roses and other flowers.

The life path for Diane, of Swedish ancestry, and Lou, hailing from Spain, has been an interesting one. Lou, with his military background, and Diane, with her corporate business past, have traveled the world for purposes of career, as solace from heartache and just to enjoy the beautiful grandeur of our planet. Each has known fascinating hobbies, ranging from fencing with a parent, sailing, horseback riding and maintaining salt water aquariums. With the passing years, each has been introduced to the lessening of optimal abilities, but has learned that invaluable trait of adapting.

At the end of the day, after the rigors of raising two boys, being consumed with busy careers and traveling the world, Diane and Lou cherish the quiet serenity of sitting in their lawn chairs enjoying the fruits of their gardening labors. As Diane so wisely councils, "Your mind is like a magnifying glass; you can focus and dwell on the negative and live in misery or choose to magnify all of the good things of life and simply choose to be happy."

Diane and Lou choose to magnify the good and share the wisdom of soulful gardener Rachel Uy-"Inhale each sight and scent; hold this moment's breath and let it last-there will be many more, of course-but each, treasured...for life in the garden is fleeting."