Aprille Quinn seeks solace in her backyard, which was transformed from a muddy dog pen to a lush setting of winding trails, rich plants, a fish pond and home to a variety of birds.

When we moved here, the backyard was literally washing away, said Mrs. Quinn, 78. "My husband and I, at first, were at a loss at what to do. There were so many trees that we didn't know what could possibly grow. We didn't want to take out all the trees because, at our age, we liked the shade."

So she did her homework. She sketched a drawing of her dream garden that included raised flower beds, walking paths, a fish pond and areas for a variety of ferns, her favorite plants.

"The raised flower beds helped the dirt from being washed away," she said. "And we enlisted the help of our son, Herbie, who landscaped the garden with river rocks and mountain stones. He also put in the pond. That has been a wonderful habitat for fish. They are thriving."

Today, the once barren backyard is now lush with vegetation, whimsical yard art, wind chimes, and baths and feeders that attract the many birds that entertain Mrs. Quinn and her family.

"My backyard is my favorite place to be," she said. "It's beautiful and very peaceful."

Mrs. Quinn offers the following tips to convert a shaded yard into a place of beauty.

1Make a plan. Sketch on paper what you'd like to plant and where. Raised beds are ideal for yards that slope, preventing dirt from being washed downhill. Use river rock or mountain stone to help secure the dirt.

2 Remove small trees to make room for flower beds and trails. Till the dirt in a healthy preparation for the plants.

3Select plants that grow well in the shade. Mrs. Quinn said she learned by trial and error that impatiens, most variety of ferns and hostas are ideal in her shaded yard.

4 Include walking paths. "The paths serve two purposes," Mrs. Quinn said. "It makes it easier for weeding and watering, and the paths offer a convenient place to walk while enjoying the birds and beauty of the garden."

5 Place bird baths throughout the garden to attract a variety of birds. "But place birdfeeders, especially ones containing sunflower seeds, in an area that borders the garden instead of in the garden," Mrs. Quinn said. "Birds can be messy."

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