608 Euclid - Tom and Sue Ella Allen
By Ryan Taylor
Tom and Sue Ella Allen have lived in Houston for 33 years, except for a few years in South Carolina and 10 years in southwest Houston; most of those years have been here in the Woodland Heights.
"We had our pick of all the areas in and around Houston. The Woodland Heights turned out to be a great fit for us, " Sue Ella commented. "No green thumbs at our house. Tom's grandmother was an avid gardener, but that did not rub off on him. We hope to keep all the new plants alive despite ourselves."
Though they appreciate their yard being selected for Yard of the Month, they are quick to credit their landscaper with their success.
"It is great to be recognized for keeping our community looking good and contributing to the survival of the bee and butterfly population. However, most of the hard work was provided by Laura Neff of the Rice Organization, Inc. and her crews. They provided the final design, sourced the plants and materials, and converted our lawn sprinkler system to a drip irrigation system," Sue Ella continued.
Tom and Sue Ella Allen have lived in Houston for 33 years, except for a few years in South Carolina and 10 years in southwest Houston; most of those years have been here in the Woodland Heights.
"We had our pick of all the areas in and around Houston. The Woodland Heights turned out to be a great fit for us, " Sue Ella commented. "No green thumbs at our house. Tom's grandmother was an avid gardener, but that did not rub off on him. We hope to keep all the new plants alive despite ourselves."
Though they appreciate their yard being selected for Yard of the Month, they are quick to credit their landscaper with their success.
"It is great to be recognized for keeping our community looking good and contributing to the survival of the bee and butterfly population. However, most of the hard work was provided by Laura Neff of the Rice Organization, Inc. and her crews. They provided the final design, sourced the plants and materials, and converted our lawn sprinkler system to a drip irrigation system," Sue Ella continued.
Through the process of working with a landscaper, the Allens have learned there are benefits to landscaping with native plants. Relying on Buchanan's for potted annuals, they fill their gardens with native plants, including
"Texas native or Texas hardy Guara, Salvia, Purple Cone Flower, Horseherb, Ajuga, Oxalis, Turkscap, Texas Sedge, Ligularia, Holly Fern, Carex Grass, Creeping Jenny, Dwarf Mondo Grass in the front yard. Rudbekia Gloriosa Daisy, Old Fashioned Penta, Salvia, Star Jasmine, and Dwarf Yaupon Holly in the side yard."
When choosing plants for their yard, the Allens choose low-maintenance perennials with a compatible hardscape of gray flagstone paths with either Black Star Gravel or Dwarf Mondo Grass to fill the spaces. But their favorites are the Azaleas, which they planted shortly after they moved in.
After living in Houston for 33 years, they've learned to keep Houston ever changing weather in mind with its potential for hot, cold, and humid conditions that affect how gardens grow - , they offer the following suggestions,
"The best bet is to stay with natives. Also, plant with sun and shade requirements in mind."
The side yard behind the fence east of our house. It is our outdoor cooking and living area with a deck, a small lawn area, and a variety of annual potted plants, including our old claw-foot tub full of Asparagus Fern. Their yard and its native plantings attract a variety of critters who enjoy the green environment they've created including bees, butterflies, squirrels, and a variety of birds.
As with most gardeners we've featured in our monthly Yard of the Month feature, their least favorite part of gardening is pulling weeds.
'"We spend about one hour a week to dead head flowers and pull weeds." and their favorite part of gardening is, "...planting the new spring annuals."
In spite of their love for annuals, they've opted to go for year-round green in their favorite part of their yard, "It's our outdoor cooking and living area with a deck, a small lawn area, and a variety of annual potted plants, including our old claw-foot tub full of Asparagus Fern. Despite all the new plantings in the front yard, our lawn in the side yard is synthetic turf. We can keep it green all year round."