The new owners of Veranda were sold on the eclectic garden accessories store the minute they laid eyes on it. "I wish my backyard looked just like this," said Kristine, a nursing student at Evergreen College. "There's a sense of tranquility."

The soothing sound of trickling water from their wide selection of garden fountains calm customers as they step inside. Quaint garden benches and lush greens add a finishing touch, making the store a restful refuge.

"Some people just like coming into the store to sit on the benches because it's so peaceful," Kristine said.

Sergio, a licensed concrete contractor with some 10 years' experience in the concrete business, runs the shop, with Kristine helping out when her busy schedule allows. He also offers consultation on the use of concrete and water fountains.

Veranda will soon offer a showcase garden at the back of the shop where customers can see the possibilities of decorative concrete in their yards.

Inspired by the potting activities of their four daughters, ages 1 through 14, in the backyard of their Rose Garden home, the couple plans to run gardening workshops for children in the store starting in June.

Emma's Garden, named after their youngest daughter, will teach children why planting is important and will be taught by a horticulturist. Classes will be aimed at a variety of age levels, preschool through 12th grade. "As a parent, I've been looking for a workshop like that," Kristine said.

Meanwhile, the couple has been busy getting acquainted with the shop's treasure trove of inventory items. The store is bursting with colorful merchandise, ranging from Asian bamboo pipes to antique European garden furniture. Among the couple's favorite items are a pair of antique Chinese oil lamps, and the centerpiece of the shop, a large, circular, concrete fountain.

With prices ranging from $2.50 for a simple pot to $1,750 for a huge antique Indian bookcase, Kristine is sure there's something for everyone in the store.

"Every time I come here, I have to resist bringing something home," Kristine said.

One of Kristine's goals with the shop is to make dressing up gardens an inexpensive affair. "I want to keep prices affordable. I hate walking into a shop and not finding anything under $10," she said.

To add to the store's hodgepodge of garden accessories, the couple will be importing cast-iron garden furniture from Mexico and heading to Italy in August for additional inventory. "We're always bringing in new things," said Kristine, who goes shopping once a week "up north." But she won't tell where. "That's my secret," she said.

The Tovars are excited to be a part of the merchants on Lincoln Avenue.

"People have been coming to the store and welcoming us with open arms," Kristine said. "It's a family-oriented community where everyone supports local stores and looks out for one another. This is the type of community I want my children to grow up in."

Veranda is located at 1366 Lincoln Ave. For more information, call 408.286.0597. The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Veranda is closed on Mondays.