(ARA) - At this time of year, many of us feel confined to our homes and trapped by bitter wind, biting cold and harsh weather. It's snowy, the days are shorter and we long for that time when we can be outdoors, digging in the dirt.

Siblings Erin and Christopher Rogoff share their backyard with chipmunks, squirrels, bats and rabbits.

Siblings Erin and Christo pher Rogoff share their backyard with chipmunks, squirrels, bats and rabbits.

Landscapers and designers say that creating fun outdoor spaces is simple and inexpensive. In these spaces, the squirrels chase the birds, and Erin and me chase the squirrels, says a 7-year-old.

Inside the spacious old Wrigley Building on the Westside of Santa Cruz, you will find a redwood house, bamboo outdoor flooring and a spectacular water feature which will become the framework for a model backyard garden adjacent to a moist, woodland forest.