While clicking the remote through the glut of cable channels to find something appropriate for my dinner dining enjoyment, I came upon HGTV, Home & Garden Television. At that very moment, HGTV was airing ?EUR??,,????'??Landscapers?EUR??,,????'??? Challenge.?EUR??,,????'??

Intrigued by the program?EUR??,,????'???s title (Was this ?EUR??,,????'??Fear Factor?EUR??,,????'?? or ?EUR??,,????'??Survivor?EUR??,,????'?? for landscape designers and contractors?) I stayed tuned. The program is hosted by Marianne Curan, who, curiously, has a background in comedy and reportedly likes to play tennis with her dog. In this episode, Ms. Curan introduces viewers to Southern California homeowners Brian and Mona Eremita, who, like many backyard challenged people, have an outdoor domain of dirt punctuated by esthetically pleasing clumps of weeds.

The Eremitas, like Jeanne d?EUR??,,????'???Arc, have a vision-but theirs is worldlier: a backyard that, well, isn?EUR??,,????'???t full of dirt and weeds. Brian wants a patio and an area to barbecue and entertain; Mona desires the contemplative peace of regarding nature in her own flower garden; the kids want a swimming pool and trampoline (fat chance, kids, mom and dad opt for a lawn and a play apparatus, instead).

The Eremitas have $40,000 budgeted for the backyard; further, the couple will receive and select one of three, free, professional design proposals, will only pay for materials and labor, and appear on national television!

Enter three Los Angeles area landscape professionals and the ?EUR??,,????'??challenge?EUR??,,????'?? of the program: Philip Castiglia, landscape designer, Paul Contreras, landscape designer/contractor, and Jade Satterthwaite, landscape architect, each present their design proposals to the Eremitas. The suspense mounts-who will be kicked off the island? Sorry, wrong program. Which design will the couple choose? What happens if Brian and Mona disagree? (Hint: Whatever Mona wants, Mona gets.)

The Eremitas select Paul Contreras?EUR??,,????'??? design, as his includes all the elements they desire. Mr. Contreras explains aspects of his design work and how it will be accomplished. His crew gets to work: The land is leveled; an old fence toppled; concrete is poured for the patio (yes, the little Eremita girl squish her fingers in the wet goop); a tiled counter arises, replete with a stainless steel barbecue; the sod is placed; the garden dug and planted. And, tah-dah, a before-and-after that is as astonishing as on of Oprah?EUR??,,????'???s makeovers (so my wife tells me).

The producers of ?EUR??,,????'??Landscapers?EUR??,,????'??? Challenge?EUR??,,????'?? invite landscape designers, architects, and homeowners to participate. The only qualification is that homeowners must be in the Los Angeles area and have a minimum budget of $15,000.