Nearly thirty years ago, Dave and Lila Johnson arrived in Mill Creek looking for something very specific. As empty nesters ready to leave behind their split-entry home in Edmonds, they wanted a rambler that could become their forever home. Mill Creek, with its beautiful neighborhoods, parks, trails, and reputation for well-kept landscapes, immediately caught their attention. After touring several homes in The Parks neighborhood in August of 1996, they walked into the house they now call home, and Lila knew instantly it was the one. They moved in that December and have never looked back. Nearly three decades later, at ages 83 and 82, they still say it was one of the best decisions they ever made.

For Lila, one of the greatest gifts of living in Mill Creek has been the people. Joining the Mill Creek Garden Club in 2008 introduced her to a wonderful circle of friends while expanding her love of gardening. Dave appreciates the active lifestyle Mill Creek offers, from neighborhood trails and fitness centers to the friendships he built over many years as a referee with the Snohomish County Basketball Officials Association. Together, they've built not only a life here but also a garden that has grown alongside them.

What began as a typical new construction yard with a modest lawn, a few rhododendrons, and a flowering tree has slowly transformed into a series of outdoor spaces that wrap around their uniquely shaped property. The Johnsons affectionately describe the garden as having "zones," each with its own personality. There is a sunny butterfly garden filled primarily with perennials that attracts hummingbirds, bees, and plenty of admiration from the next-door neighbors. A shady woodland garden features a towering Japanese maple, hostas, deer ferns, astilbe, and delicate Himalayan maidenhair ferns. A gravel pathway bordered by Japanese forest grass, white geraniums, liatris, and hostas guides visitors from one space to another, becoming especially magical after sunset when solar lights illuminate the walkway.

Two arbors add both beauty and meaning. One is covered with fragrant Jasmine officinale, a living reminder of Lila's childhood home in Ballard and her mother's garden, where she remembers picking blossoms to tuck into her hair. The other supports a summer blooming clematis and leads to a Pennsylvania bluestone patio that became a pandemic project. Today it serves as the perfect spot for morning coffee, an evening glass of wine or beer, and quiet moments spent appreciating the garden from a different perspective.

Another favorite gathering place sits just outside the kitchen, surrounded by flowering containers, hardy fuchsias, and mature trees. It's where the Johnsons enjoy meals outdoors while watching hummingbirds dart through the garden.

Rocks are woven throughout the landscape forming dry streambeds, providing excellent drainage, and adding texture and character throughout the yard.

Dave says his favorite part of the garden is simply its beauty. Surrounded by mature trees and years of thoughtful plantings, it has become a peaceful haven for wildlife. Robins, nuthatches, chickadees, towhees, blue jays, hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and even an occasional hawk stop by to visit the family's water feature. A wandering deer even surprised the couple one afternoon, although both admit the rabbits are far less welcome.

Creating the garden has truly been a partnership. Dave credits his father, whose carefully maintained lawn and vegetable garden taught him the value of hard work outdoors. Lila traces her inspiration back to her mother, whose Ballard garden overflowed with flowers, including the fragrant jasmine that inspired one of her favorite features today. "Dave maintains it, and I dream it up," Lila says. "It works for us." That partnership has carried them through sixty years of marriage, a milestone they celebrated this past August. Looking back, Lila says she wouldn't change the journey. Every success, every mistake, and every lesson learned became part of creating a garden that reflects who they are.

To some, investing in a garden might seem extravagant. The Johnsons see it differently. "Our garden is our entertainment, our worldwide travel, and our gifts," Lila says with a smile. One particularly memorable gift was the three-column water feature Dave gave her for her 70th birthday, which continues to bring peaceful sounds to the landscape.

Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Lila's garden photography has appeared on the covers of a local publication in both 2025 and 2026, and in 2024, the Johnsons received the Great Garden Award from the Mill Creek Art & Beautification Board. They have also opened their garden twice for the Mill Creek Garden Tour, most recently this summer. Sharing the space with visitors and hearing their appreciation remains one of the most rewarding parts of the experience.

Even after 29 years of planting, pruning, learning, and dreaming, the Johnsons finally think the garden may be finished. Dave certainly believes so. Lila isn't quite as convinced. Perhaps that's the beauty of a garden. Like the life they've built together in Mill Creek, it continues to grow, evolve, and bring joy with every passing season.