As spring turns to summer, those yellow flowers give way to bright pink perennials. With walls of windows inside, the owners can easily look over their yard and enjoy the sight.

Following a route of stone pavers takes visitors past flowering plants to the formal garden. Trees guide the way, too, and offer extra shade.

Once a site for potato fields, the land surrounding this traditional home in eastern Long Island, N.Y., has since been transformed into a meadow with ornamental grasses and yellow flowers. By focusing on native plants, the landscape architects were able to limit harmful irrigation and pesticide use, as well as create a soft country setting.

If we had to guess, paradise looks a little like this: an outdoor spa surrounded by tall grasses and wildflowers. When the owners need a little R&R, they'll no doubt find it here.