What's unique about this transformation is the Rosenquists did all the work themselves, including the water lines and electric lines. It's been a seven-year project—from the barren wasteland of the drought years to the dramatic setting of today.

"We did it gradually, each year a different project, and I think it turns out better that way," the retired aerospace engineer says. "I don't see how even a designer could imagine how it will look until it's pretty well established—it's impossible to predict how the height, breadth and colors will work together.

"We could see how some of our ideas weren't going to work so we could change our plans. Now we have our own private park." That park includes a waterfall, a gazebo, a pavilion and a canopy of trees giving shade throughout the day. 'Tis a perfect party setting.

Along the way, the Rosenquists took photos, and when they heard about Backyard Living's national competition they sent in those photos. From thousands of entries the Greenbriar garden was selected. "Probably because we did all the work, including the designing ourselves," conjectures Mr. R, who is retired. "I could never have done all this work while I was still working."

CANCER AWARENESS ADVOCATES: Saratogan Gay Crawford and oncologist Dr. Richard Adrouny received recognition recently for their work in implementing a colon cancer free zone in Santa Clara County. Crawford received the first PreGen-Plus Colorectal Cancer Awareness award.

She is the Colon Cancer Initiative Team chairman of the American Cancer Society and will receive a $5,000 grant for further initiatives to increase awareness of the disease. Dr. Adrouny is the oncologist who developed the program concept and whose practice is in Los Gatos.

The goal of the cancer-free zone is to educate residents about colorectal cancer and to encourage those 50 and older to get screened. Colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among nonsmokers. But more than half of those with the disease have never been screened.

Survival rates are as high as 90 percent if the disease is detected early. But more than two-thirds of these cases are detected at an advanced stage. At that stage the five-year survival rate is less than 50 percent. EXACT Sciences, the company that developed PreGen-Plus, sponsored the award.

PreGen-Plus is a fecal DNA test for colorectal cancer. The test analyzes DNA in a stool sample to detect colorectal cancer. The test detects the presence of cancer at an early stage and is more comfortable and convenient than others offered.

ROBOTS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Wendy Chisholm, assistant professor of digital media at the University of New Orleans, brought a team of students and their exhibit of robotics art to the Innovative Applications of Artificial Intelligence Conference held in San Jose recently.

Chisholm and Dr. Sheila Tejada, who teaches a robotics course at the university, teamed up to produce entries to the conference. Their students combined virtual reality, the web and a Sony Aibo dog to create a three-dimensional installation where people and robots interact.

This interaction occurs both in real life and on the Internet. The team and its installation then headed to NASA jet propulsion lab in Pasadena for more demonstrations. Back in New Orleans their work will be part of an exhibit at the Ogden Museum of the South's White Linen Night.

The Ogden is an affiliate of the Smithsonian. Chisholm is the daughter of Jo Piazza Chisholm, a broker with the Saratoga office of Coldwell Banker.

ACTING CAMP: Chip Kraemer, 17, attended Stagedoor Manor, a theater camp in the New York Catskills, this summer and performed in Jesus Christ Superstar. Students spend three weeks rehearsing 11 shows which are then given in one of Stagedoor's seven theaters.

Agents keep an eye on these productions to spot the talent that could lead to tomorrow's stars.

SHADY SHAKESPEARE: Shady Shakespeare, a San Jose-based theater troupe, will present free performances of Hamlet at Sanborn Park on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 7 p.m. through Sept. 12. Dinna Myers is director and the parking fee is $5.

BLOOD DRIVE: Donors from Saratoga Church of Latter Day Saints collected 53 pints of blood for the Red Cross recently. Each pint has the potential to save up to three lives. The next blood drive is Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m.­4 p.m. at St. Mary's Church, Los Gatos. Contact is 1.800.448.3543.

PLAY READING: Two short plays by Roxy Sax of San Jose and me will be offered in a staged reading at The Terraces on Aug. 28 at 2 p.m.

Got a tip for Saratoga Sampler? Send email to maryanncook@earthlink.net.