Can you do a cottage style in the back yard and something more formal in the front? Choose plants for the formal style garden that don't require as much fuss so it won't be as much work. Shrubs eventually won't need watered that often and slower growing ones won't need hedged as often. Use pots and mulch and add some decorative rocks, a bench or fountain, you don't have to do alot to maintain that when he shows up missing in action.
