She is 75 and is unable to manage her townhouse-sized garden.

I live out of town and am hoping to find someone for her while some renovations are being done inside. This work will be done in November but being able to spruce up, clean up, repair the sprinkler system and properly program the timer as a surprise before she moves back in would be great. I would like to ask this person to do monthly- or bi-monthly maintenance so she doesn't have to do anything to the garden except enjoy her roses.

Can any of you recommend someone?

In addition, she has an arbor that is about 12' square and I would like to know what you might recommend as a low-maintenance climber that is not an ivy plant?? Clematis? We're trying to avoid anything that needs pruning or that attracts bees. She has a table and 4 chairs underneath and occasionally eats outside.

Many thanks, Molly

For CA, that will be the University of CA Extension Service. And the phone number can usually be found in the front of the phone in the section called County Offices.