Yard of the Month:

MAY 2008

     Our award for May Yard of the Month went to Stacie Hyatt at 6534 Danbury. Soon after moving to Ridgewood Park in 2005, Stacie began transforming her front yard by removing the existing shrubs, adding new bedding soil and enlarging the beds that surround her home.  The beds, surrounded by St. Augustine grass and towering pecan trees are now bordered with Austin stone and contain a mixture of vibrant color and texture. 

Since Stacie’s yard has a mixture of shade and sun, she chose plantings that provide color without eight hours of direct sunlight.  In the left front bed which receives morning sun, Stacie planted dwarf variegated ginger, Gulf Stream nandina, moon bay nandina, big blue and silver dragon lirope, autumn ruby encore azaleas, Japanese aralia, cloud 9 dogwood and purple crepe myrtle.  The center bed receives mid-day sun and contains Carissa holly, podocarplis, hostas, lantana, begonias, Kangaroo paw, bleeding heart and fox tail ferns.  The right front bed is shaded most of the day with parts receiving hot afternoon sun.  In this bed Stacie added celerya, autumn fern, holly fern, caladiums, crimson Pygmy barberry, double impatients, pansies, dwarf mondo grass, autumn chiffon azaleas, empress encore azaleas and a Japanese maple. 

Stacie has succeeded in filling her beds with plants that require different light levels resulting in an oasis of rich color and texture.  Congratulations, Stacie, on a job well done!

Shelly Mason