Natural hospitality

William wants his work to be something his friends and fellow gardening enthusiasts can enjoy. He loves to open his home to guests, particularly around the holidays. For his annual Christmas Eve party, William hires a bartender and local musicians. When his parties take place outdoors, he sets the mood with music through his outdoor sound system.

The homeowner also gets requests from garden groups or even random passersby, and he is happy to oblige them with tours of his acreage. The reactions of visitors who enjoy his gardens make all of the work worthwhile.

"The best part is the compliments that people genuinely, sincerely pay me," he says. "Visitors are just awe-inspired." William decided to take his hospitality a step further by opening his home as the Ridge View Bed & Breakfast.

The goal for the future of the gardens is to make them something that will continue to inspire and surprise people. William says he likes to include small details in his gardens that encourage visitors to take a closer look at their surroundings.

"Discovery is the mark of a good garden," he says. "I continue to develop that."