Livia is a nice little suburb in the upper Midwest—but behind the manicured lawns and pristine hedges seethes a ruthless desire to be the greatest green thumb of all. . .
George and Nan Fremont have created a paradise in their backyard, complete with semi-hallucinogenic exotics and a comfy spot for drinking their favorite merlot. Marta Poppendauber's garden is as pleasantly haphazard as she is. And Dr. Phyllis Sproot, Livia's self-styled...