Uninspired by a simple landscape of lawn and foundation plants, Ron and Judy McGill began decorating their Fairfax Heights home 27 years ago in the style of a whimsical country store.

To a few small azalea bushes, they added a gazebo, pergola, five fountains, a handful of porch swings, scores of birdhouses and birdbaths, a 4-foot-tall concrete basket of silk hydrangeas, countless hand-painted statues of turtles, frogs, rabbits, cardinals, bluebirds and yellow birds, children and angels, windmills, plaques, urns, wind chimes and Tweety bird and Roadrunner cartoon character windspinners.

In a dry, shady area, a ceramic green fish pours water into a half-whiskey barrel emptying into a pond surrounded by metal and LED-lit flamingos.

Plantings include 100 shrubs, tea and shrub roses, crape myrtles, clematis, dayliies, long plastic bags of impatiens hanging on posts and drifts of reseeding and tiger lilies.

Married for 31 years, the couple enjoy gardening together.

“I have an idea and he says, ‘honey, I don’t know about that,’ and then we try it,” said Mrs. McGill. “But he made all the water features by himself.”

Despite the numerous objects, everything is packed away at the end of summer to make way for Mr. McGill’s legendary 50,000-light Christmas display.

“A lot of people see this place at Christmas time, but it’s just as pretty in the summertime as at Christmas time,” Mr. McGill said.

With all the bird-friendly gear, the yard also became a creature haven.

Baby robins chirp in a double-decker nest tucked in a Japanese tulip magnolia tree. A tree frog croaks from a (temporarily) empty birdhouse.

“There’s nothing like coming out in this gazebo in the morning. I enjoy listening to the birds. It’s absolutely amazing. It’s like a bird sanctuary out here,” Mr. McGill said.

Q&A

Q: What is your garden’s best season?

Mrs. McGill: “Springtime. All the Knock Out (roses) were in bloom, the whole bush. If you ever buy a rose, buy a Knock Out. They’re the most amazing rose.”

Q: Do you mind the snakes, birds, toads and lizards that visit you?

Mr. McGill: “No. We’re nature lovers, no doubt about it. As long as you have a garden, you’ll have nature come visit you.”

Q: Tell me about this NYLS418 red basket on your porch.

Mrs. McGill: “That’s my big ol’ basket Ronnie bought me four years ago. He and a neighbor lugged it up on the porch, and I loved it. I sprayed it red, my favorite color.”

Q: You have a large wind chime collection. Why?

Mrs. McGill: “I have a lot of wind chimes. A lot of people say they don’t like chimes, but I sit out here when the wind blows and talk to God. It’s wonderful.”

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