Congratulations to our May Yard of the Month: Judi Owens & Jim Garza at 1416 & 1420 Herkimer

The home at 1420 Herkimer and the adjoining 1416 Herkimer property, were recently purchased by Judi Owens and Jim Garza. The large oak tree shading 1416 provided the perfect space to design an area for their dogs to run and play, as well as room to develop a protected garden. They love living next to the hike & bike trail where they are able to meet their two-legged and four-legged neighbors.

Before planting the garden, the owners designed an interior fenced yard, preventing their dogs from running along the fence line and barking at passing dogs. It also provided a peaceful space to create a garden. Hill country rocks and black gravel were first set around the perimeter of the garden, then Foxtail Fern, Butterfly Iris, Coppertop Viburnum, Rough Leaf Blue Agave with rosemary and salvia were used to fill the spaces between the rocks. Sweet Bay Magnolia and Eagleston Holly anchor the corners. A California redbud was selected for one corner because of its bright purple blooms and for the collection of bees it attracted. Bird feeders and watering bowls were added to attract birds.

The homeowners are grateful to all the surrounding gardens and beautiful yards in the Heights as well as the many local nurseries from which they have drawn inspiration. They are glad to report that in addition to the numerous White-winged Doves, House sparrows and House Finches, they have a nesting Eastern Screech-Owl in their oak tree and have seen Downy, Red-bellied and Red-headed woodpeckers, Red-tailed and Cooper’s Hawks, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Northern Mockingbirds, Northern Cardinals, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Empid Flycatchers, Chimney Swifts, Purple Martins as well as a White Ibis in or flying over their yard. They anxiously await migration to see what additional birds visit their yard.  

A big thank you goes out to Joshua’s Native Plants for a gift certificate given to our May Yard of the Month recipients.