Village West Yard of the Month
The final Village West Yard of the Month this year for October is 11418 Ella Lee Lane!
This is a large corner lot with new landscape. Like so many all over Houston, this landscape suffered after 2 back-to-back freezing winters, followed by early and excessive heat this summer. While the owners were able to retain some of the original landscape, there are new shrubs, annuals, perennials, sod and edging rock. What remains of the original landscape is structural – the original beds, mature trees & a few mature shrubs. One of the things done well is the massed plantings. When covering a large area, the landscape is more impactful with masses of plants rather than multitudes of different plants.
October Yard of the Month
Large pines and oaks anchor the front yard – this large lot accommodates them easily, with room for plenty of other plants. Routine maintenance has left all the trees with high canopies that results in a dappled sun exposure allowing grass to grow but will also shade the house & yard during the heat of the day.
There are existing beds forming islands around groups of trees and another long curved bed running the length of the house, however almost nothing remains of the original plantings. Several large Japanese yaupon are the exception. The new plants are a mixture of annuals & perennials with a variety of color, shape & texture. For the most part, plants with color are in island beds with more visibility from the street.
Visit 11418 Ella Lee Lane
- Beginning on the left, the beds under the Pines contain green mound juniper, a sturdy, slow-growing shrub & Blue daze that produces small blue flowers from Spring to Fall. Both will survive freezing temps. Both of these are considered groundcovers.
- The next island under Oaks contains multi-colored Pentas & the strap-leafed Lily of the Nile (Agapanthus). Pentas are tender perennials that will survive mild winters & are popular because they are nonstop bloomers & they’re cheap!. The Agapanthus will produce a cluster of either purple or white flowers on a stalk above the plant in Spring. This is a shade tolerant perennial that can also survive freezing temperatures. There are also Elephant ears in this bed.
- Another bed uses Agapanthus behind annual Caladiums. Caladiums brighten shady spots with color but winter survival is mixed – either the squirrels dig them up or the bulbs rot in the wet soil.
Additional Landscape
A long curved bed extends the length of the house. New shrubs including Buford holly and Japanese boxwood, are mixed with existing Pittosporum. A mass of pre-existing Asian jasmine flows across the front of the house. Annual Coleus frames the front entry. The corner of the side yard adjacent to the driveway has a large bed of Butterfly Iris. A hardy perennial that produces pale yellow flowers intermittently. An area in the center of the bed has been opened up for a Hibiscus. All of the beds have been edged using moss rock.
Please stop by & visit with the owners, congratulate them & get inspiration for your own yard.
Thanks to Judges
A special thanks to all who participated in judging – Winners have expressed gratitude, surprise, pride – and a few (happy) tears. If you haven’t been present when the winners are notified, you need to know how impactful this is to residents of Village West. Thanks for helping us make this happen.
Village West
Village West is located in Houston’s Energy Corridor business district. The neighborhood is convenient to many of Houston’s major roadways therefore making it an easy commute to many of Houston’s employment centers. It’s a beautiful well established neighborhood with many benefits and amenities for it’s residents. For more information about Village West and all it’s wonderful amenities, visit Village West.org .
Sponsor
This marks the 3rd year that Connie Vallone of Park West Real Estate (713) 249-4177 has underwritten support for the Yard of the Month awards. We value and appreciate her involvement in our community and hope that you will consider using her for your real estate needs.
