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Craig Allision

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TV show looking for ‘extreme garden makeovers’
by Dawn Abbey

VALLEY – Local landscape architect Craig Allision intends to turn disaster areas into Gardens of Eden.

The popular local landscape architect, whose weekly gardening column appears in The Desert Advocate, is producing a new Phoenix‑based television series called “The Carefree Gardener: With a Little Help From Our Friends” on KPNX‑TV, Channel 12.

The hour‑long show premieres at 5 a.m. on Sept. 30 and features deserving homeowners whose yards are transformed at no cost to them from “disaster to paradise,” Allison said.

“For instance, on the first show, we help a family who had not been able to go out in their backyard for eight years. When we left, the kids were playing in the grass, while the homeowners entertained 30 of our volunteers on their new patio with a BBQ and furniture, all donated by the show,” he said.

Each episode focuses on landscape education and tips, so viewers can fix their own garden problems.

Allison is looking for deserving homeowners that need landscaping help to feature in future programs.

The Carefree Gardener assembled a team of volunteers and dubbed the group “The Tranquility Crew,” who are set to do 26 TV segments over the next year.

Unlike other “makeover” type shows, Allison said his group welcomes neighbors or even passersby to stop in and help with the progress. Donations of materials and labor are also needed, and will be acknowledged on the show. Main sponsors for the show are Desert Tranquility Nursery and Rainbird Irrigation.

Immediately following the show each Saturday, Allison will host a radio show on KFNX‑AM 1100 from 6 to 7 a.m., where radio listeners can call in with questions.

After more than 30 years of landscape experience and 10,000 high‑end projects to his credit, Allison said this is his way of giving back to the community, by improving the landscape one house at a time.

To nominate someone facing financial or physical challenges and in need of a landscape makeover, e‑mail your nomination to: ja602@aol.com.

Include your name and contact information, the nominee’s name and contact information, along with a brief description why the nominee should be chosen. Also include a brief description and photos of the homeowner’s current landscape.

Enter “Deserving Homeowner Nomination” in the subject line of your e‑mail. Nominee’s can be faxed to (623) 742‑7216, or mailed to: The Carefree Gardener, 34719 N. Central Ave., Desert Hills, AZ 85086.

For more information, visit www.thecarefreegardener.tv.

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