June 2021 Yard of the Month

June Yard of the Month goes to Jean Hungerford at 140 Lakeridge.  Jean and her late husband John moved to OLH in 2013.  John took a different career path, but he had a Horticulture degree, and gardening was always his passion and first love.

When the Hungerfords bought their house, it had been mostly updated on the inside, but nothing had been updated outside.  A blank slate to work with is a horticulturalist’s dream!  John drew up the original plans and then, in 2015, engaged Walton’s and their awesome folks to continue improving upon what he had started.

Although the front yard is beautiful with many varieties of plants and a dry stream bed, the back yard is like a mini-arboretum. They first tried several different grasses for shade and realized over the years that the large trees in the back just wouldn’t give them the sunlight they needed so they gave up on that idea and now there are decomposed granite pathways all throughout the back yard. An enormous American Elm tree is the centerpiece with plantings all around.  Walton’s installed a large outdoor fireplace/patio area which is covered and oh so tranquil.  And Jean has a “secret garden” on the north side of the house where she can relax with her pups.

The plant list is extensive – Walton’s gave them a little bit of everything, and the entire property is gorgeous.  John especially enjoyed the Knock Out roses and Saucer Magnolia in the front yard.  There are quite a few Japanese Maples which provide great shade for the plants growing underneath them.  Some of these plants include Oak Leaf Hydrangea, Hosta, Azalea, Bear’s Breeches, Flax Lily, Turk’s Cap, Aspidistra, Soft Caress Mahonia and Oxalis.  There is also a fabulous Dogwood tree in the back because they used to live in Georgia and John was determined to have one here!