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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

[Sarah Wakefield]

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[Cheryl]

Once upon a time, there was happy couple that lived in a simple house. Their backyard was bare and longed for a pond and a beautiful butterfly garden. Their porch always wanted to be dressed in pavers that would welcome friends when they visited. This couple had two boys in college, and it was their priority to give them an education. They never dreamed of being able to spend money on their backyard. Then, one fine September day, this couple won a backyard makeover and their dreams were fulfilled! They were forever grateful to all who donated their services.

[Margaret Fuesy]

Good evening, I just found out about this contest today. I have lived in my home on Siesta Key for 12 years. I bought it because I loved the gardens... I bought if from the original owner, Sarah Watson. It is a 1966 ranch style home in the exclusive Sanderling neighborhood. The year I purchased the home, Tropical Storm Josephine destroyed the beautiful landscape [the next morning the cover of the Sarasota Herlad Tribune had my neighbor Kayaking in my front yard] the gulf met the bay and my home is right off Midnight Pass Road, the meeting of the 2 waterways. We had fish swimming up to the sliding glass doors, 19" of water came into the home and we lost 40 plus years of beautiful vegetation, never mind the personal effects and memories of childrens photos and baby clothes, etc. people told me give it time and it will come back, it never did. I then went through a horrible divorce with 3 tiny children, Worked full time and the money always went some where else. For years I have tried to maintain what I could, I am a native New Yorker and had beautiful vegetable gardens, just can't make them work here, I have tried and tried. I love the jungle atmosphere and always wanted a Zen Garden but this is just a big mess. The backyard is on Heron Lagoon,such a beautiful canvas for a landscaper. Just this week I cut over 50 brown palm fronds and that didn't even dent it. The wooden fence is all dilapadated where I use to have a hot tub, now it is all overgrown and the sod died. I have a beautiful staghorn fern that fell to the ground and I had a handyman rehang it and it is so high you cannot see it. Being from 1966, the brick patio and round stepping stones are all unsettled. weeds and mold growing on them. It is a shame, yes my neighbors complain a lot and I do what I can. So this would be a very high profile opportunity for the contractors. I just tried to upload images and they are not going through. I can get them to you tomorrow. I have been unemployed for over a year [ have applied for over 200 jobs] This backyard, on this beautiful Island of Siesta Key would be quite a creative project, the wildlife is here is amzing.As I said an overgrown tropical canvas that would allow you to have your talents shine and I could help in getting the press coverage for the project [that is my business, PR and Marketing].

I urge you to take the time to view the property, I am saddened by the lack of maintenance to this property.And I have such great ideas if only I could... I am a very private person, hence why I love vegetation but you could make such a metamorphasis here... I hope you consider it.


Thank you. Margaret Fuesy 941-806-8135; [e-mail]

[Grandpa Jim Nelson]

Upon returning home Friday from my bilateral knee replacements, my computer urgently summoned to show WQ's Ultimate Backyard Makeover contest. I tried to ignore its' excitement to no avail. My wife and I are mobility challenged requiring power chairs to navigate our yard which has amazing potential but requires major HELP to turn it into a functional space. We long for less grass to mow, Florida native shrubs, low-maintenance, butterfly and hummingbird-friendly plantings with the peace and serenity of the water feature and other amenities so generously offered to the winning entry. We have rotting, wooden decking with warped, unuseable access for our power chairs; replacing these with the paver patio offered..... just what the doctor ordered! Our computer pleads with you to help us regain the enjoyment of our backyard, so it's free to play its' favorite games while we enjoy our lovely, new backyard. A Shade Sail will grant respite from the sun to enjoy the "cool" BBQ and seating area. The idea of a pond is amazing; we are TOTALLY on board for "green" as we drive a Hybrid; look forward to the Green Home consultation, Hydro-Stacker and water barrel for an even "greener" backyard.

Our granddaughter and her college sweetheart (now in the US Army keeping us safe) hope to have their wedding in our backyard next spring. We look forward to providing a beautiful setting for their nuptials with the generous help of the Extreme Backyard Makeover Team!

[Debby LaMontaine]

Why do I want a backyard makeover? Because mine has become a desert. It was once a nice green field of grass. Now, I don't have to drive to the beach. I have one in my backyard. If I was a sand crab, I'd be right at home! I have considered a miniature golf course with lots of sand traps! When it rains, I have my own mud bogging track. It's not a pretty site. I try to keep the blinds closed, so house guests don't see it. Please make this backyard over! Debby LaMontaine

[Susie Anderson]

Divorced 3 yrs, I inherited the yard maintenance. Berms full of shrubs were too much for me. A boyfriend started shrinking the berms but walked away mid project. I love maintaining the plants, but creating is out of my budget and abilities. (My health is not great) I spent $700 for sod, to rid myself of a mud pit and have trees trimmed. Last week, it was a race between ants & plants! My yard budget is now zero, how sad is that! I really want to enjoy my yard, it could be a Garden of Eden! (THIS IS A RE-ENTRY TO UTILIZE THE 100 WORD MAXIMUM)

[cindy fieberts]

I am entering the Back Yard Contest
Cindy Fieberts
3335 Plantation Drive
Sarasota, FL 34231

[Vickie Kitterman]

1990 the second week we were in our home a young man flipped his truck into our yard taking out two oleanders. he tried to upright the plants, to no aveil. Two months later came the downpours. the woodwalk around the pool; was now in the pool. A new paver walkway, 10 years later and there are still bricks piled in the back yard. For 3 months Roto-Rooter played gofer trying to unplug a pipe in the pool, they disappeared. Who knew capenter ants can eat 1,000 times their weight in wood a day?! They destroyed the fence, gazebo, covered patio, and the pool walkway.
I really miss my calming yard!!!!!!!!!!

[Anita Wexler]

Myself, (ok everyone else too)desperately needs an oasis from reality. Teaching Middle school students all day and coming home to two middle schoolers and a first grader. Working on my masters degree at night and lesson plans; leaves me worn down (do I hear an Amen!) Let's face it! I have weeds instead of plants, empty pond where fish once lived and not a tree in the back at all. Do I want to win? Yes Do I deserve it? No ;P Do my kiddies? Yes, they deserve only the best!

[Nicole Starostecki]

My husband and I have been pumping money and sweat into this backyard for over 2 years and see nothing but weeds and frustrations grow. We have come to the conclusion over those 2 years that we are the worst landscapers in the world. Our yard is so ugly the neighborhood children throw rocks at us and laugh...
We just spent over a $1,000 on a couple of travelers palms and weeping protocarpis but even with those additions the yard still looks like we neglect it. We just need some direction instead of our expensive experiments gone wrong.

[Dawn]

I am nominating a yard. It's the house I live in, but I do not own it!! The owner has been a blessing to us. (Her and her house) Yes, she knows I am nominating her/our yard, and she approves. She deserves this.
About 2 years ago after a loss of employment and then a foreclosure, things were a little tough for my family. BUT she came to the rescue. My children love it here, my husband has gotten new employment, and we even have a new baby!! She has given a much needed fresh and safe start. She has been truely so kind. We have been working to make improvements while we stay, paint and scrub, and weed and mulch. We can only do so much for her property on our budget, but I WOULD LOVE the chance to do something more!! Something really great. She deserves this, and her yard could sure use it..............

As you can see the yard slopes. Lawn furniture would be nice, but you might fall into the canal!! Maybe a retaining wall would be better?

This is the porch, but it is in serious need of repair.

It has a stylish PVC and rope railing!!

These are the stairs off the porch leading down to the lawn-furniture-swallowing canal.

This is the beautiful oak which shades the porch. Oh! and if you look closely you might also see the very sophisticated outdoor lighting! (this can't be safe!!)

This is a photo of the, um, flower beds that really "spruce" up the whole area.

Look at those fancy borders!!

This is the real "nature" side of the garden. The spiders just LOVE it!

Here is our, um ...."charming" dock. Even though it's a litle tattered, we enjoy feeding the ducks from its warped and faded boards.

Another flourishing flower bed!

Please come help us leave this home better then when we got here! I would be so grateful to surprise our landlady with the win. (and me and the kids would get to enjoy it for a while too!!)

[kimberlydisfree123]

I know I am in need of a "Backyard Getaway"! My backyard screams "getaway"!! I am receiving treatments at the hospital daily that take up three hours of my day and prohibit lifting of items over five pounds. My medications also makes me very sleepy. I also am unable to "getaway" because I have to be at the hospital EVERY day. I would love to be able to start and/or end my days with some peace and tranquility!! I am not trying to make a sob story but I would be a great candidate for this Backyard Getaway!!!