Learn how Minnesota Landscapes transformed this Twin Cities yard.
When Jim and Jan Raaf first contacted Minnesota Landscapes several years ago, they had a simple need: outdoor lighting that would complement their existing craftsman-style fixtures while improving energy efficiency. What began as a straightforward lighting upgrade evolved into a multi-phase landscape transformation that turned their Woodbury corner lot into a neighborhood showpiece that draws compliments from every passerby.
Today, the Raaf property stands as a testament to what's possible when thoughtful design meets patient, phased implementation and a partnership built on trust.
The Raafs owned craftsman-style landscape lights they loved but had stored away. Rather than replacing perfectly good fixtures, they wanted to find a company that could rewire them for LED efficiency and integrate them strategically into their landscape.
That's when they discovered Patrick Erkens and the Minnesota Landscapes team.
"We liked his design and the fact that the bid was very competitive," Jim recalls. "Patrick utilized our existing lights and wasn't trying to overlight our backyard. He was really strategic about where to put them to take advantage of showing off our patio and the gardens surrounding it, without making it look like it was just lit up everywhere."
Patrick's design-first approach immediately set Minnesota Landscapes apart from other contractors the Raafs had considered. Rather than overwhelming the space with fixtures, Patrick identified key features worth highlighting: a red maple, a ginkgo tree, and a showy mountain ash that deserved individual spotlights, along with carefully placed path lights that would illuminate walkways without overpowering the natural ambiance.
The result exceeded expectations. Even though Patrick never saw the completed installation at night, the Raafs were thrilled with the transformation. The lighting brought their backyard to life after dark, creating inviting spaces for evening relaxation on their raised back porch overlooking the yard.
"The overall effect when we were done is we're just so pleased with it," Jim shares. "We've had a lot of compliments."
Minnesota winters can be brutal on landscapes, and the Raafs experienced this firsthand when an exceptionally snowy winter brought rabbits that devastated their front yard plantings. The couple found themselves replacing approximately 15 shrubs, essentially restoring the original layout that came with the house nearly two decades earlier.
Sitting on their front porch one day, surveying the reinstalled but uninspiring landscape, Jan turned to Jim with a revelation: "You know, I really hate this. It just doesn't look right. Minnesota Landscapes does landscaping as well as lighting. What if we talked to them?"
That conversation launched the most dramatic phase of their landscape transformation.
When Patrick and designer Kelly visited the Raaf property to discuss the front yard, they didn't just talk about replacing damaged plants. They asked about the Raafs' lifestyle, their maintenance preferences, and their vision for the space. The couple explained their ongoing rabbit problems and expressed a desire to move away from high-maintenance perennials toward more durable shrub-based plantings.
Kelly's design incorporated vertical elements to add dimension and visual interest while raising the ground level in strategic areas. The plan addressed the rabbit issue through plant selection while creating a cohesive aesthetic that would complement the craftsman details of the home.
"They had some really good ideas about needing to put some vertical elements in and maybe raise the ground a bit," Jim explains. "Long story short, they ended up completely redoing our whole front yard, and it just turned out lovely."
The transformation was so successful that neighbors regularly stopped to comment on the dramatic improvement. The Raafs appreciated how Minnesota Landscapes didn't just restore their front yard but reimagined it entirely, creating something far more beautiful and functional than what existed before.
With the front yard landscaping complete, the Raafs realized one element was missing. The following spring, they contacted Minnesota Landscapes again to add lighting that would showcase Kelly's design work after dark.
Patrick and the team planned the lighting installation during winter months, ensuring everything would be ready for spring enjoyment. The addition of spotlights on the striking Angel Falls weeping white pine and Ice Dragon maple, combined with strategically placed path lights, brought the entire front yard to life at night.
"It's like the house is finished now," Jim says with satisfaction. "When you drive up and see the front yard, especially at night, it's really inviting. The landscaping is nicely balanced with the house, and it all blends together really well."
Throughout multiple projects over several years, Kelly and Patrick developed an intuitive understanding of the Raafs' aesthetic preferences. This relationship, built on careful listening and thoughtful design, meant each subsequent project required minimal adjustments.
"Kelly's gotten to know us over several projects, and she can kind of read our minds," Jim shares. "We change very few things in her designs, and when we have suggested changes, she's been very open to it."
One notable example: Kelly recognized the Raafs' appreciation for Asian-influenced design elements, which pair beautifully with craftsman architecture. Without the couple explicitly requesting it, she incorporated subtle Asian themes into the design, including a blue lattice privacy screen in the backyard that creates both function and visual interest.
"She realized we kind of liked a little bit of an Asian theme, which marries very well with craftsman," Jim notes. "We have a certain level of craftsman details on the house, and she listens. She's pretty thorough in coming through with a design that we had to tweak very little."
While Patrick and Kelly's design expertise impressed the Raafs, they're equally enthusiastic about the installation crews that brought those designs to life. Team members like George and Rick became familiar faces through multiple projects, and their professionalism and craftsmanship matched the quality of the designs they implemented.
"They're on time, they're really nice guys, they do good work, they're friendly, and they clean up after themselves," Jim emphasizes. "It's kind of like the whole package is really great."
Jim particularly marvels at George, a 70-year-old crew member whose work ethic and attention to detail rival team members half his age. "For his size, he works with boulders like a young guy, and he's very thorough. He seems to have quite an eye—I think he almost has enough experience that he could be a landscape designer himself."
The approachability of Minnesota Landscapes' crews also stood out. "They're not just in to do the job and gone," Jim notes. "They're nice to work with and friendly. You can have a conversation with them without interfering with their work."
The Raafs' multi-year relationship with Minnesota Landscapes extends beyond project completion. When winter kill affected some plantings, the company responded promptly with replacements. Minnesota Landscapes also provided detailed care information for every plant and shrub installed, helping the Raafs maintain their investment properly.
"They've been super responsive when we've had an idea for another project, but also when we've had some winterkill," Jim explains. "They give us information on every plant and shrub and how to take care of it. It seems like an extra step that you don't get with a lot of other landscaping companies."
This ongoing support reinforces the Raafs' confidence in their choice of landscaping partner. "We don't even bother going to anybody else or checking estimates with anybody else," Jim admits. "We just call Kelly. It's kind of like now we're friends with them."
The transformation of the Raaf property created impacts beyond aesthetics. The couple now spends significantly more time enjoying their outdoor spaces. Front porch sitting sessions have increased, and evening hours on the raised back porch overlooking the illuminated landscape have become a cherished routine.
"To sit out there in the evening with the lights on is just very relaxing," Jim shares. "We find ourselves spending a lot of time out there."
As empty nesters in their 60s, the Raafs appreciate having beautiful outdoor spaces designed specifically for their enjoyment. The lighting additions extended their outdoor season, allowing them to appreciate their landscape well into the evening hours throughout the growing season.
The corner lot location on a curved street means the Raaf property is highly visible to neighbors and passersby. "When you come up the street from the other corner, you see our house probably sooner than you would if the block were straight," Jim notes. "And when you see it, it's just like, wow, that looks really nice."
The frequent compliments from neighbors walking past have become a source of pride. "We get a lot of neighbors that walk by and comment about how nice our yard looks," Jim says. "Hopefully it'll inspire more neighbors to spend a little money and enhance their yards."
The Raafs' transformation comes at a significant time in their neighborhood's development. With most homes between 15 and 20 years old, many properties are reaching the point where original landscaping needs replacement or significant renovation due to overgrowth or age-related decline.
"A lot of people's landscaping has gotten to the point where it needs to be replaced or thinned back because it's overgrown," Jim observes. "As the neighborhood turns over, you get new homeowners who come in and see where improvements need to be made that the original homeowners couldn't see."
The Raafs know of at least one neighbor who has already contracted with Minnesota Landscapes after seeing their results. The couple expects more neighbors will follow, particularly as awareness grows about the quality of work Minnesota Landscapes delivers.
After several projects with Minnesota Landscapes over several years, the Raafs can articulate exactly why they've become loyal advocates for the company.
"We just like how consistent they are and how thorough they are," Jim explains. "They have really good ideas and recommendations. It's not just Patrick and Kelly—it's the crews they send out. The whole package is really great, and we're so glad we found them."
The competitive pricing, design expertise, quality installation work, responsive service, and ongoing support create a complete package that keeps clients returning for additional projects. For the Raafs, the relationship has evolved beyond business transaction to genuine friendship based on mutual respect and consistent excellence.
"We're really happy with Minnesota Landscapes and are proud to recommend them," Jim concludes. "People stop to ask us who did the work. I think inevitably they'll get some business off of our projects."
The Raaf project demonstrates the power of phased landscape improvements guided by a consistent design vision. Rather than attempting everything at once, they tackled their outdoor spaces strategically over several years, allowing each phase to inform the next while maintaining budget flexibility.
This approach offers several advantages for Twin Cities homeowners:
Manageable Investment: Spreading projects across multiple years makes significant landscape improvements financially achievable without compromising quality or design vision.
Evolving Understanding: Living with each phase before adding the next helps homeowners understand how they actually use outdoor spaces, informing better decisions for subsequent improvements.
Design Continuity: Working with the same design team across multiple phases ensures cohesive results where each element complements the others rather than looking like disconnected additions.
Relationship Building: Multi-year partnerships allow designers to develop deep understanding of client preferences, resulting in designs that consistently exceed expectations with minimal revisions.
Seasonal Flexibility: Phasing projects across years provides opportunities to tackle different work during optimal seasons rather than rushing everything into compressed timeframes.
The Raaf project showcases core strengths that distinguish Minnesota Landscapes in the competitive Twin Cities landscaping market:
Design-First Philosophy: Rather than defaulting to cookie-cutter solutions, Patrick and Kelly invest time understanding each client's lifestyle, aesthetic preferences, and property challenges before developing customized designs.
Strategic Restraint: The team's willingness to recommend fewer elements when appropriate—whether lighting fixtures or plantings—demonstrates confidence in design principles over upselling unnecessary additions.
Responsive Service: Quick responses to maintenance issues, winter damage, and new project inquiries reinforce client confidence and justify the trust required for multi-year relationships.
Installation Excellence: Experienced crews who take pride in their work, maintain professionalism, and build rapport with clients while respecting their property create positive experiences beyond the final product.
Comprehensive Support: Providing detailed plant care information and standing behind work with appropriate replacements when environmental factors cause issues demonstrates genuine commitment to long-term client success.
Whether you're dealing with winter damage like the Raafs, outdated landscaping from your home's original installation, or simply a vision for something better, Minnesota Landscapes brings the design expertise, installation craftsmanship, and ongoing support that turns ordinary yards into extraordinary outdoor living spaces.
The Raaf transformation proves that remarkable results don't require starting from scratch. Strategic enhancements to existing elements, thoughtful lighting design, and phased improvements guided by a cohesive design vision can completely transform properties while respecting budget realities and lifestyle needs.
Ready to explore what's possible for your property? Contact Minnesota Landscapes at 651-457-0000 or info@minnesotalandscapes.com to schedule a consultation. Discover why clients like the Raafs build multi-year relationships with our team and become enthusiastic advocates for our work throughout their neighborhoods.
Your corner lot could be the next one drawing compliments from every passerby.
