Gilbert enlisted her son Troy for some of the heavy construction, including taking a sledge hammer to the old brick outdoor kitchen and concrete slab.
It took an entire weekend to tear down the bricks - recycled for other projects - and rental of a jackhammer to erase evidence of the previous patio.
Retaining walls of concrete aggregate then provided stable and rustically beautiful flowerbeds to house shade-loving hostas.
Hosta plants require little maintenance in shady and well-watered areas such as Gilbert's garden, and mature fully to maximum size in four to eight.
A 2014 survey indicated that almost 43 percent of respondents planned to spend more money on outdoor DIY projects than in previous years.
So if you know someone putting off a garden makeover, SHARE as a subtle hint to join in the crowd making outdoor spaces more appealing!