outdoor AMBIANCE
ASK EL PASOAN MARIA WOODY ABOUT HER favorite room in her Mediterranean-style home in the Willows, and she’ll take you for a walk — outside. Woody, who is a Master Gardener, spends more time outside than inside during the summer. Nothing beats “being al fresco,” she said, especially in her outdoor room, which looks like an indoor room, except for the clear blue sky. The outdoor patio is one part of the expansive yard, which also includes a variety of raised beds, a rose garden, a swimming pool and a separate, enclosed vegetable garden. “The whole idea is that we have great weather in El Paso 10 months out of 12 and we definitely wanted to be able to enjoy it and do a lot of outdoor entertaining,” Woody said.
photography Mark Lambie
Woody put a lot of thought into designing her outdoor room, making sure to include an outdoor fireplace and durable wrought-iron furniture. The patio is extended so that it gets some morning sun, without it bearing down on the weather-resistant seating pieces. And yes, El Paso does have some chilly nights that just call for sitting around the majestic fireplace, while sipping a glass of wine. The aroma of the burning pine wood adds to the evening splendor. “It is so inviting, and we have like the best view of the town and the mountains,” Woody said. “In the mornings on the weekends, we like to go out there and read the paper, and in the evenings, it’s just the two of us out there watching the sunset,” Woody said of herself and her husband, Darren. “It’s romantic and peaceful.” june/july 2009
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