Take a stroll through Ronnie Dean Williams’ Makakilo garden and you’ll quickly notice the quaint atmosphere enhanced by an eclectic mix of sculptures, lanterns, statues, artwork and water features lurking around every corner. Many of the additions to the greenery were made by Williams himself, since the gardener also happens to be an artist.

Williams is responsible for the decorative stepping stones and painted flowerpots scattered throughout the landscape, and he even used his lanai as a blank canvas.

"I saw this slab of concrete we call a lanai just begging to become an art project," he said. "In my 25 years of painting, that’s the largest piece I worked on and the only time I worked on a completely flat surface. It adds a bit of fantasy,whimsyand color to the garden."

His backyard covers about 1,200 square feet, with 500 square feet of that covered in a variety of plants and flowers. The upstairs balcony offers a splendid view of the scenery below, which includes a hammock for relaxing and a small koi pond.

"Back in 2003, there were 35 young palms planted around our home forprivacy and to shade the house. Ten years later, some have reached heightsof 25 feet and above," he said.

There’s about one palm tree for every 15 square feet. There’s also celery, peppers,cilantro, oregano,basil, garlic, chives, onion, and green and yellow beans.

"It’s like having a pantry in our garden," Williams said. "We love all the fresh veggies and herbs, and we use them every time we cook."

Williams likes to add to his garden collection through plant exchanges with friends and neighbors.

His partner, Kirk Brumbaugh, created the greenery from his own blank slate, a barren plot of dirt when he purchased the home. "I added in the pops of color … and planted herbs and flowers between the plants," he said.

While it serves as a peaceful sanctuary, the garden also provides inspiration for Williams’ artwork and stunning nature and outdoor photography. Photos taken in the garden are the basis for many of his pieces, and the images appear on products such as wallpaper, calendars, mouse pads, T-shirts and cellphone cases.

Even dead things in the garden attract his eye. "I use palm fronds and seed pods that fall from the tree," he said. Seed-pod lamps are among the items he makes with recycled yard materials, and coconut fiber is used for securing orchid plants to trees, to help them establish roots.

Williams said the yard doesn’t require much upkeep — just spot-pruning and watering as he and Brumbaugh walk through the area. And the filter in the koi pond needs changing once a month, a task that takes about 20 minutes.

"We love to entertain in such abeautifulspace,as wellas relaxing in thehammock," he said.

Williams and Brumbaugh enjoy most of their meals in the garden.

"My favorite time is coffee in the morning. There’s so much life andenergyin the garden —it really comes to life with the birds, butterflies andgeckos. It has added about another 700 square feet of living space to our home."

See Ronnie Dean Williams’ artwork at ronnie­dean­art.com.