Special to the Iowa City Press-Citizen

If you have 12 young grandchildren who all want to visit your house at the same time, how do you keep them entertained? Karol and Phil Miller know.

First, you build swing sets, perhaps a daybed swing that seats six or more, and a fire pit for many nights of making s’mores, plus gardens that feature angels, toads, butterflies, snails, turtles, and fairy figurines.

When the Millers bought their home 10 years ago, there was very little shade. Phil Miller planted more than 30 trees, many along the dry creek that borders the backyard. A hosta garden was what they had in mind.

The trees grew, as did the shade, and now more than 220 different hosta varieties surround the trees, sharing their colors and shapes with whimsical figures, garden art, and subtl

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