Heights Garden Tour – 2215 Decatur

October 10, 2026 Garden Tour at 2215 Decatur

This month’s tour takes us to the Historic Old Sixth Ward. Bob and Cynthia Card have lived here for 25 years, the garden evolving along with the house’s interior. The cottage garden now envelopes both the 1893 bungalow and artist studio in the back. This mix of flowering plants and herbs attracts a steady stream of pollinators to the garden enhancing the historic feel of the neighborhood. Cynthia treats her plants with tough love and says that if a plant needs special attention, it is on its own. Notable ‘tough’ plants are Esperanza, Duranta (Sweet Memory), various mallows, Esperanza, Lantana, A Blue Butterfly Clerodendrum, a bay tree, Mexican Mint Marigold, Rosemary, and Vinca that have re-seeded themselves freely amongst the other plants. There is also a large Roselle Hibiscus, from which they make tea. A few years ago, the Cards bought the small bungalow next door offering it as a visiting artist residence and also for art exhibits. The fence between them was removed and the garden expanded. Old bricks, collected from the neighborhood, make vintage paths throughout the garden. The Cards have also installed several rain barrels that collect water for the garden.

Parking may be challenging as the streets are narrow, but parking on the side streets and a short walk will give you an opportunity to observe the historic neighborhood and all the original houses still on this block. The houses are very close together which seems to have brought the neighbors closer together as well.

We would like to thank Wabash Feed & Garden for the nice gift card awarded to our October Garden Tour recipients.

Wabash Feed & Garden 4537 N. Shepherd Dr. 713-863-8322 www.wabashfeed.com