Robba Residence Garden – 312 Moss St.
Our May 2025 Yard of the Month

Landscape History
I purchased my 1929 Cottage in 1999, and it had two old Pecan trees that were in bad shape and provided no shade.
There were only weeds in the front yard and some native Purple Ruellia and Red Cannas along the driveway. That
was it as far as the landscape went.
I installed a sun garden landscape and planted a 30-gallon Water Oak and 30-gallon Basham Pink Crape Myrte in the
front yard, along with 3- 1 gallon Purple Catawba Crape Myrtles along the street that I purchased with a
housewarming gift card to Buchannan’s Native Nursery. I received Yard of the Month in the following spring for my
initial transformation from the Proctor Plaza Association.

2000
Over the following 26 years since, my garden in the front yard has become a complete shade garden with my Water
Oak is now a 30” caliper tree over two stories high and the Crape Myrtles and Oak have all grown together to
completely shade the front yard from the West facing sun. The grass completely receded over the years until there
was little left, so I decided it was time to install a shade garden.

Landscape Redesign 2024
I removed all the grass and installed two winding Blackstar gravel paths on either side for ease of walking to the
driveway and side gate, but also for a natural hardscape feature in the garden that provided a natural break from the
front beds and the back beds. For the plant selection I wanted plants that gave the look of a shade cottage garden, but
were also tough enough to handle mostly filtered shade all day and then get a little blast of early evening sun as the
angle of the sun beams under the trees. I also wanted plants that would naturally stay within the 1’-3’ height range.
Plants like Giant Ligularia, Evergreen Bromeliads, Variegated Flax, Spotted Ligularia, Foxtail Ferns, Wood Ferns,
East Indian Ferns, Yarrow, Alocasia (Elephant Ear), Variegated Hostas were selected.
These plants were chosen to have variation in textures, shades of green, and leaf shapes. Then I added Crossandra
(orange bloom), White Caladiums, Variegated Brake Fern, Bromeliads, and White Upright Pentas to add color. I used
Creeping Jenny (lime green) and Sandy Leaf Fig Ivy as ground cover to fill between the plant’s bare areas. Along the
house I created a formal boarder with Winter Gem Boxwoods and the Walking Iris for a more natural flowing look
behind them. I boarded the Larger Crape Myrtle with Goldstrum Rudbeckia. I also created two color beds with
Wasabi Coleus for the lime green contrast with a mini mondo border.

2025
It is amazing to see what a transformation that landscaping can do for the look of a home and its environment.

We want to thank Joshua’s Native Plants & Garden Antiques for the very nice gift card awarded to
Deidre for our April Yard of the Month. 713.862.7444 www.joshuasnativeplants.net