A 20-foot indoor waterfall and a back yard partitioned into four distinctive entertaining areas are among the highlights of the Ripon Garden Club's September Stroll home and garden tour, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Included on the tour are four homes in Ripon and one in Manteca:
Bob and Billie Verdegaal consider their garden an extension of their home, a place where family and friends can gather. It is filled with Drake evergreen elm, Chinese tallow, silver maples and Rose of Sharon trees. There are several varieties of salvia, Razzleberri, fringe flower and buddleia bushes. A separate planting area is for cut flowers, including lilies, irises, gladiolus and zinnias.
Mark and Lynette Lucchesi's one-acre parcel has a sweeping lawn that begins in front of the home, wraps around the back and extends from their pool area to the front of their circular drive. Along the back edge of the lawn, a line of redwoods provides a windbreak. Around the pool, crape myrtles, lilies, heather and gardenias provide color. Crabapple trees shelter the pool from the driveway, redwoods camouflage the pump house, and deodar cedars and spruces highlight the corners of the front lawn.
Eddie and Michele Erdelatz's lot is highlighted by a valley oak more than 300 years old. It also has five 50-year-old live oaks and 25 redwood and maple trees. Outdoor living areas include a pool house with a game room and full bathroom, a bar and cooking center, a stone fireplace and a rustic pergola made from 100-year-old hemlock beams. A custom swimming pool and spa was crafted using 60 tons of limestone boulders throughout the waterfall, streambeds and swimming area.
Don and Sandi Artru's home has an Asian influence inside and out. In the entryway, a lighted niche with a samurai warrior sets the tone. The back yard is partitioned into four distinctive areas, including a garden pathway, a pool/spa with waterfalls, a kitchen and a deck with casual seating. The Asian influence is continued through the use of bamboo panels and screens.
The sound of water greets visitors to Bud and Deb Travaille's redwood home. Its entrance is framed by large ferns, and its focal point is a 20-foot waterfall above the fireplace. The residence also has a detached garage with a wine cellar and attached guest cottage. The wine cellar features a unique table based on an antique wine press. 
