June 2020 YOTM: 146 Classen

Congratulations Murphys!

Bob and Randy Murphy moved back to Dallas after their retirement in the summer of 2016. Having previously lived on Leda Drive, and with Randy being a Hexter, Hill, and B.A. alum, Old Lake Highlands and its many trees was a natural attraction.  The tree part changed on June 9, 2019, when the straight-line winds that hit our area took out a large oak in their front yard and another large tree in the back.  The shade-loving landscape they had on the morning of the 9th was not going to survive the Texas summer.

The generosity of several neighbors who were willing to trade the Murphy’s shade plants for those that would flourish in the sun began the transition from hostas and ferns to yucca, lantana, and sage.  The daylilies and iris they brought from their yard in Georgia began to thrive, and over time beds were extended or added to include cannas, cactus, salvia, feather grass, bulbine, dwarf Mexican petunia, rosemary, crepe myrtle, and the donation of a small agave from The Green Spot.  To their surprise and joy, the Japanese maple in the front yard made it through July and August and is still an accent piece.

Rock landscape was added to match the water feature already in the yard and a Chinese maple tree was planted in the back to replace a hackberry that was previously there.  What the Murphys have now will continue to be a result of trial and error, the trading of plants with neighbors and friends, more hard work, and lots of good luck.