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THIS IS THE OFFICIAL PAGE OF THE $16,000 ULTIMATE BACKYARD MAKEOVER GIVEAWAY HOSTED BY BACKYARD GIVEAWAY AND SPONSORED WQ|MAG.SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE

Please Read The Rules And The Sponsors On This Page.
You must be a WQ|mag Member to Enter. Not A Member? Join By Clicking Here It's Free To Join!

Hosted by Backyard Getaway www.backyardgetaway.net

The Backyard Getaway is a family owned and operated service and retail pond & water garden business that grew from a hobby into a passion. Let us add the peace and tranquility of flowing water to your backyard and enhance your landscape with a unique water feature. Whether you prefer a Koi pond, a water garden with beautiful lilies, pondless waterfall or even a pet friendly pond for your dog, we will create your perfect getaway in your own backyard. We offer pond installation, maintenance & restoration services.
Do-it-yourselfers order your pond equipment & supplies online or call us for local delivery in Manatee & Sarasota Counties. Koi & Aquatic plants are available for viewing by appointment. We carry a full line of pond & water garden products from Liner & Pumps to Filters & UVs. We also carry water treatments, lighting, water lilies, aquatic plants, live Koi & koi food. Our customers are our number one priority & we will be happy to walk you through & show you step by step how to install your water feature.

Ask about our free garden clinics,hands on pond build classes, our annual parade of ponds water garden tour & our Backyard Friends Club. If you would like to see one of our water garden creations contact us & we will be happy to give you an address to visit. Call today for your pond consultation.

Backyard Getaway
Your Complete Pond Source & More..
(941) 752-POND (7663)
www.backyardgetaway.net
[e-mail]
Donating: Water Garden.




Other Sponsors and Contributors:


Your Green Home Resource
[phone]
www.steffm.weebly.com
[e-mail]

Your Green Home Resource educates and coaches families as to what steps they can take and supports them as they begin the journey to reducing their carbon footprint. We do not force anyone into a choice they are not comfortable with, and we do not judge if a family decides they are not ready to take a particular step at this time. It is a learning process, and one action leads to another.
Donating: Complete home consultation


All Phases Welding
2415 10th St. Ct. E.
Ellenton, FL 34222
941-723-6800
www.AllPhasesWeld.com
[e-mail]

All Phases Welding & Fabrication Inc. is a local business based out of Ellenton, FL. in Manatee County. We are a residential and commercial welding company that has over 15 years of experience in all aspects of welding. Our quality workmanship is currently building our reputation as one of Manatee Counties premiere welding contractors and we hope to expand that throughout the state. We specialize in carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. We are portable as well and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for emergency needs.
Donation: two one of a kind solar lamp posts



D & T Handy Girlz
Home Preservation Specialist
941-713-1387
[e-mail]

15 years experience with commercial & residential properties Securing, cleaning & maintaining foreclosed properties. For prompt, dependable & courteous service
call Doris or Terry.
Donating: Landscaping & landscape plantings



HYDRO-STACKER LLC
941-322-9602
www.hydrostacker.com
[e-mail]

HYDRO-STACKER LLC is the original patented inventor and holder of the vertical hydroponic growing system. The HYDRO-STACKER system is water saving (as much as 400 percent over tradidtional growing methods & does not use traditional insecticides or fungicides because of the growing medium that is used. The HYDRO-STACKER system only uses three quarts of water for twenty plants in fourteen square inches of growing area. Production for food can increase over normal growing to 4 to 5 times more food. The HYDRO-STACKER system has a Lifetime Warranty.
Donating: two installed stack automatic feed systems



Premier Video Productions, Inc.
(800)-716-5692
(941)-753-1910
[e-mail]
www.pvvideo.com
Established in 1989 by LaJuana Pruitt, offers full service video production from the conception of your project to finished delivery. We videotape in digital and HD, serving both local & national cliental ranging from the legal & medical communities to fine arts & entertainment.
Donating: video of makeover



Ryland's Rustics
[phone]
[e-mail]
Pat Gormley, Artist
Creating one of a kind wall & garden art using 100% recycled materials
Donating: One of a kind garden art


Historic Sheds
[phone]
www.historicshed.com
[e-mail]
Historic Shed was founded by the historic preservation professionals at to meet the needs of historic-home owners for affordable and attractive additional space that complements and enhances their historic property. We also offer hard to find accessory products for your historic building, including window screens, wood screen, doors, foundation lattice and gates.
Donating: Garden shed



NDC Carpentry
[phone]
[e-mail]
General contractors specializing in custom interiors. Kitchens, Baths, Windows, Doors, Custom trim, Arbors & Decks.
Donating: arbor



Eco Essentials
[phone]
Jodi John
[e-mail]

Offering rain barrels, earth boxes, worm farming & organic Shitake Mushroom buying club.A 1” rainfall generates about half gallon of water per square foot of roof area.
Donating: rain barrel




Tampa Bay Landscape Lighting
By Decorating Elves
(866)-445-6202
www.tampabaylandscapelighting.com
www.decoratingelves.com
Decorating Elves was started as a small business venture by Nick Schriver to help homeowners Avoid the Holiday Hassle. With hard work and dedication Decorating Elves has grown to be the premier outdoor lighting & event decorating company specializing in Christmas lighting & holiday decor.
Donating: Standard Landscape Lighting Package with 10 fixtures and 1 transformer



PAVING CREW, INC
2150 17TH ST,
Sarasota, FL 34234
941-360-0203
FAX [phone] [e-mail]
www.pavingcrew.com
Paving Crew specializes in installation of interlocking brick pavers, old Chicago pavers and retaining walls. We are a licensed and insured company, full staffed to meet the specific requirements for residential and commercial projects. We have in house crews that can handle any kind and any size jobs, knowing that customer service is very important, we schedule all repairs for the very next day. We also offer pressure cleaning and sealing of any paver application already in place.
Donation: Paver patio & retaining wall with seating



FL Native plant nursery
[phone]
www.floridanativeplants.com
Florida Native Plants, Inc.was founded as Florida Scrub Growers, and has committed itself to growing native plants since 1982. The plants we grow originate from seeds and cuttings from Florida and therefore include species that are adapted to our heat, humidity, drought, flooding and frosts.
Donating: Plants for alternative lawn choices & butterfly garden basics



Michelle Donner Photography
[phone]
www.michelledonnerphotography.blogspot.com
[e-mail]
I decided in the beginning of 2009 to live my passion... Now, Michelle Donner Photography has been launched. I will photograph and record your small events Now offering portrait sittings. I love what I do, and would love to make you smile.
Donating: publicity shots/portrait



The Hive Creations &
Anna Mariki Tiki
9908 Gulf Dr. Suite C
Anna Maria, Island Fl. 34216
941.778.7432
www.thehivestore.com
The Hive Creations is a unique place to visit on the north end of Anna Maria Island, FL! Established in 2007, it is filled with hand-carved tiki's and tiki-style decor, one-of-a-kind silk screened American Apparel, handcrafted jewelry, organic candles, beautiful wall pieces, and artwork. Everything in the shop is handmade by artists local and regional.
Donating: Two 3' hand carved Tiki



Shade Sails, Inc.
donated a 12'x12' shade sail. (These are very cool for Florida)



The Gulf Coast Plumeria Society
donating a couple of Plumeria Trees





SPECIFIC RULES FOR THIS CONTEST:
* You Must Be A WQ|mag member to Enter. Not a Member? Join Here It is free to Join.

*Entires must live in Sarasota or Manatee County, Florida.

*Must own your home & be 18 years or older to enter.

*If home is in deed restricted community it is owners responsibility to get permission for makeover from homeowners association.

*Family & employees of participating companies not eligible to enter.

*Maximum area for makeover is 1200 sq. ft. (You can still enter if your yard is larger or smaller but the max area to be made over is 1200sf)

*You must send a photo (Size of photo should be 500 pixels wide or less) & 100 words or less of why you want this makeover. (entries will be judged on originality & humor).

*Backyard Getaway & WQ magazine can not be held responsible for any companies or items that may back out of contest

*Only one entry per person.

*NO purchase necessary

*You can nominate someone else, but all above rules apply.

*Top 10 finalist will be chosen by the host & sponsor

*Finalist will be posted on www.wqmag.com where the winner will be chosen by public voting.

*You can vote once daily during voting period.

Dates to remember


*Entry Dates: August 1st- August 31st, 2009

*Top Ten Finalists Announced: September 3, 2009

*Vote for finalists: September 3 - September 18th, 2009

*Winner Announced: September 23rd, 2009

*Makeover scheduled during the month of October

Please read the General Rules which apply to all Contests, Giveaways and Sweepstakes.



ENTER BY SUBMITTING YOUR INFORMATION IN THE REPLY BOX BELOW

[Diana]

We had a very nice pond and garden area, but then we bought our first house as you can see by the pictures the work came to a stop. John had a 3-way bypass done the 23rd of Sept. the day after I returned home from my son have stomach cancer surgery. I could have lost him digging that pond. I would like to have our quite place again, you will have a clean slate to work in.... but one thing my grandson is still looking for the fish to be put in to watch Ha Ha

[Patty]

I sent this once but not sure the pictures came through. I'll try again, if it's a duplicate, please forgive me.

I purchased my first home on my own (that I am very proud of) about 4 years ago and have been trying to fix up my back yard to make it a little more peaceful. Hoping to put in some pavers and get rid of the grass and dirt. I don't know where to begin because I have way too many ideas of what I want to do and I'm afraid it will not look very professional. I love the outdoors and would love to have a tranquil space to relax in the evenings and week ends after the stressful days at work. I live right off Swift Rd and would like to find a way to devert the traffic noise.

My grandsons age 8 come over on the week-ends and get very bored outside with noting to do. As you can see from my photos, there is a lot of potential for this yard. I have already had a dead grapefruit tree removed and just recently trimmed back an orange tree to hopefully some day soon be able to fence off the back of the yard for more privacy. I need lots of help with all the great ideas out there today. This is a life long dream to fianlly have my own home and a beautiful yard to entertain and just enjoy life with friends and family.

[Lisa Mirman]

We are a joyous family of five
And we love to see things thrive
Our household is green and clean
But the outside is not so pristine

When we go outside to play
The yard is too barren and hot to stay
Outdoor shade would be great
So we could romp and play and create

We all love to learn and know
How organic fruits and veggies grow
So very sweet it would be
To have new plumeria and fruit trees

How cool to be able to admire yard art
As an expression of beauty and heart
Going out after dark might be a bit frightening
So perhaps you might add a touch of solar lighting

And oh how we would be so very fond
Of a new fish friendly water pond
We’d be honored to welcome your team to takeover
And do a backyard Florida-friendly makeover!!

Lee, Lisa, Ella (6), Gabriel (4), and Rousseau (our Bernese mountain dog)

[Dominic Florio]

I live on an acre and 1/2 in Palmetto, where I garden to attract wildlife. I also have 4 rescued pugs, 3 rescued cats, 10 rescued peafowl, and about 70 chickens, ducks, and others birds, some over 10 yrs old.
I teach mentally disabled and autistic children, and I have a visual handicapp myself. With all of my responsibilities and my low income, parts of the garden leave a lot to be desired.
It is my greatest desire to have a wildlife friendly, yet comfortable and relaxing environment, where I can not only relax with family and friends, but where I can have my class visit, in order to enhance their learning of nature.
Dominic Florio
“When millions of people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.”

[Lisa Mirman]

Lisa Mirman said:

We are a joyous family of five
And we love to see things thrive
Our household is green and clean
But the outside is not so pristine

When we go outside to play
The yard is too barren and hot to stay
Outdoor shade would be great
So we could romp and play and create

We all love to learn and know
How organic fruits and veggies grow
So very sweet it would be
To have new plumeria and fruit trees

How cool to be able to admire yard art
As an expression of beauty and heart
Going out after dark might be a bit frightening
So perhaps you might add a touch of solar lighting

And oh how we would be so very fond
Of a new fish friendly water pond
We’d be honored to welcome your team to takeover
And do a backyard Florida-friendly makeover!!

Lee, Lisa, Ella (6), Gabriel (4), and Rousseau (our Bernese mountain dog)

[Jocelyn Greene]

I realize the contest is “Ultimate Backyard Makeover”, but it’s our front yard that needs the most help. Our backyard is sad, don’t get me wrong, but we have a pool…that’s right a pool, in our front yard. It is a nice pool, but the cage is so close, you can’t help but poke holes in the screen with the skimmer, there is virtually no room for a chair and you feel pretty naked when the neighbors walk their dogs by and wave. If you could turn our pool into a private oasis, our family and neighbors will thank you!

[Jocelyn Greene]

I realize the contest is “Ultimate Backyard Makeover”, but it’s our front yard that needs the most help. Our backyard is sad, don’t get me wrong, but we have a pool…that’s right a pool, in our front yard. It is a nice pool, but the cage is so close, you can’t help but poke holes in the screen with the skimmer, there is virtually no room for a chair and you feel pretty naked when the neighbors walk their dogs by and wave. If you could turn our pool into a private oasis, our family and neighbors will thank you!

[Sarah]

My yard has come a long way, but now my fence just seemed to buckle and is about to fall it my yard. I can't afford to plug or sod the yard where the grass won't grow. I'd love to have a great outdoor living space to entertain, especially in the cooler months to come. My house is on the smaller side so this could be the answer I'm looking for! I know it has so much potential I just don't have to money to transform it into the master piece and outdoor living space it should be. Please help. I know with the right design this outdoor space would be magazine worthly.

[Dominic Florio]

I have 4 rescued pugs, 3 rescued cats, 10 rescued peafowl, and about 70 chickens, ducks, some over 10 yrs old.
I teach mentally disabled and autistic children, and I have a visual handicap myself. With all of my responsibilities and my low income, parts of the garden leave a lot to be desired.
It is my greatest desire to have a wildlife friendly, yet comfortable and relaxing environment, where I can not only relax with family and friends, but where I can have my class visit, in order to enhance their learning of nature without getting lost in the weeds.
Dominic Florio

[Wendy Aronson Moore]

Wendy Aronson Moore said:

Welcome to our Garden of Weedin’! This backyard needs an expert to bring it to it’s full potential. I don’t want to be labeled “The Terminator”, but many of my plants are on death row because I’ve made the wrong choices for our southern exposure and using Weed n Feed on the lawn might leave nothing but sand!
We built our house 20 years ago intending to add a pool; unfortunately other expenses like putting two sons through college took priority; we’re hoping you’ll vote to give us this makeover to finally have a backyard we are not ashamed of.

[Derek Smith]

THE BANJOS BEGIN TO PLAY...

My life and backyard has never been quite the same since my girlfriend introduced me to ANIMAL RESCUE. Now nicknamed “FOSTER BLOKE”, I’ve had over 150 'death row' dogs come through my home, to be cared for until finding them a permanent loving home.

Between diggers, jumpers and chewers of all sizes and shapes my backyard has turned into a Hillbilly Haven. The love and joy these dogs have given me has been irreplaceable. Please make my foster backyard as 'purty as a speckled pup' and silence the sound of the banjos.

[Anita Wexler]

Why wait til the last minute to enter this contest? My yard is so overwhelming where does one begin to describe the help it needs!! Pics of my son playing in the sand which is heaped in the front of the house. Ok - this is attractive (;P). He has sensory issues or is just obsessed with the beach so a sand pile was born. I tried to create a 'box' with lid to keep stray cats from turning his poor sand into a litter box, but this is not any more attractive. Then there is my beautiful weed garden where plants once stood.
I made an attempt to create a pond. Giant white cranes ate all of my fish :( I was excited when I first moved to Florida (Sarasota) from New York till I was digging in the dirt to create my dream tropical garden and the attack happened by crazy fireants!! I had heard of these demons, but to actually encounter them! My hands, ankles and toes swelled up.(yes, I was wearing sandals . . . uuuggghh). So yes, I need your help more than one can possibly express . . . SOS SOS . . . did I mention my brown thumb?