By Peg St. Clair
Enquirer contributor

Our environment can be one of life's greatest gifts. The quiet of my neighborhood and the access to the woods is a compelling reason for staying.

Many of my friends who are nearly "empty nesters" are looking to downsize. The first criterion for many of them is not a new house, but land.

It is unusual to find a builder who is committed to green space as much as to the homes they build. I spoke with a few gardening friends who have had positive experiences with Ralph Meierjohan (pronounced Meyer-John), a successful west-side builder since 1984. Mr. Meierjohan continues to value the importance of the environment in which his homes are built.

His concept, which was to create a parklike setting for custom homes in White Oak, caught Susan Carr's attention because of her love for flowers and green space. A floral designer, Ms. Carr graduated from Aiken High School's horticulture program in 1976, which, sadly, is no longer in the curriculum. She manages a florist business at Harper's Point in Symmes Township.

Ms. Carr was impressed that Mr. Meierjohan's construction budgets mandated a generous amount for landscaping. Planting beds flowed together and were shared by homeowners. Care had been taken to unify the neighborhood with each home having one or two orange and red sunset maples. Surrounding woodlands and a pond were protected.

A seven-year resident, Ms. Carr especially enjoys planting the window boxes that are required on all the homes.

In spring 2000, Mr. Meierjohan purchased the land for a project called Monte Vista in Green Township, 12 miles from downtown. Buyers may choose from detached single-family homes with no yard maintenance, attached ranch condominiums, and condominiums equipped with elevators. Traditional single-family homes also are available in the 65-acre planned community. Sprawling lawn and garden spaces are nurtured by an automated irrigation system.

Harriet Morris had been looking for a new home because the acre and a half she owned was getting to be too much work. Now she enjoys looking out on a lake surrounded by trees and a woodland view at Monte Vista. Ms. Morris says the woods are full of deer, red fox and woodpeckers. She also likes the garden spaces around her home that she can plant. "This is exactly what I was looking for," she says.

Monte Vista is on Harrison Avenue, 1 mile north of the Rybolt Road exit (Exit 11) of Interstate 74. Information: 662-0168.

Contact Peg St. Clair by phone: 541-4680; Web site: www.gardenersnetwork.org.