PGSU Garden Story: Cril & Mark

When Cril and her husband, Mark, moved into their 23-year-old home 11 years ago, the yard was simple: grass, a pool, a few trees, and 25 rose bushes. The roses were soon transplanted to a friend’s property in Damron Valley, and Cril began reimagining the space with a guiding philosophy: “do it yourself with found objects.”

A Garden Built Stone by Stone

Cril designs as she goes—an idea sparks, and she sketches, builds, and adapts until it’s real. One of her proudest achievements is the network of stone paths that crisscross the garden. She’s laid more than 7,000 pavers, scavenged from closeout sales, one truckload at a time.

Alongside them, she’s crafted intricate sandstone mosaics, gathering stone from favorite spots around the valley and piecing them into colorful, artistic flourishes at the bases of plants and along garden edges.

Found Beauty, Repurposed

Walk under trellises or through narrow passages, and every turn reveals a surprise. Benches inscribed with each grandchild’s name, hidden play areas built from salvaged wood, and themed nooks create a sense of wonder. Eclectic treasures—glass, metal, and ceramic—hang, perch, or glimmer in every corner, collected from antique shops, yard sales, and secondhand finds.

The garden thrives on resourcefulness. Idaho Honey Locust trees sprouted from a neighbor’s seeds, now offering shade. A greenhouse rose from rescued pallet wood. Along the side yard, Cril and a backhoe driver hauled in tons of rock from a highway construction refuse pile—saving thousands while creating a dramatic desert backdrop. A jagged-topped privacy fence, built from uneven boards, turned a practical project into an artistic statement. Rows of cacti from neighbors and hardy desert shrubs complete the striking scene.

In recent years, they added a vacation rental casita in the backyard, where visitors find the same spirit of creativity and hospitality that defines the garden

Garden Wisdom from Cril

• Use what you find—beauty often hides in castoffs.

• Design as you go; inspiration grows with the garden.

• Create with love for your family—grandkids make the best garden critics.

• Don’t be afraid of accidents—they often lead to art.