October Yard of the Month - 2627 Madera St.

Sam and Chloe, along with their two dogs, Brisket and Nelson, their three-year-old daughter, and another baby on the way, have been proud residents of Vickery Place for the past seven years. They moved to the neighborhood from Virginia, seeking new work opportunities, and quickly fell in love with the community. Vickery Place, they say, offers something for everyone at all stages of life, making it the perfect place for their growing family.

One of the things Sam and Chloe appreciate most about their home is the walkability of the neighborhood. They love that their dogs have a yard to play in and they enjoy the amenities of urban living, knowing their neighbors, and being part of the vibrant neighborhood life. In fact, Sam actively served on the Vickery Place Neighborhood Association Board years back and we respectfully nicknamed this kind couple the Plant Preppers after becoming familiar with their expertise with garden “survival techniques”.

We had the pleasure of learning more from Sam and Chloe during our interview, and we are excited to announce them as this month's Yard of the Month winners. Their yard is a testament to their hard work and planning, which they began three years ago with an overhaul of their front landscaping which expanded their garden beds to showcase beautiful array of seasonal color, alongside perennial coleus, hostas, foxtail ferns, Purple Heart Tradescantia, and Japanese yews.

The couple attributes their yard's continued success to careful planning, especially when it comes to preparing for unpredictable Texas winters. They protect their plants and landscape design thoughtfully created by Rubials with Plankets and durable plant bags, which they stock up on from Home Depot and Amazon well before threats of freezing weather arrive. To further safeguard their garden, they invest in bib covers for their hoses, ensuring their investment in irrigation remains intact. Additionally, they keep their large tree canopies professionally pruned to minimize risk of damage from ice buildup during winter storms.

For those considering irrigation via a drip tubing system, Sam and Chloe offer a helpful tip: to test your system regularly during awake hours and closely inspect the lines. While this method is great for minimizing evaporation by watering plants at the soil level, the system does require regular monitoring. They’ve learned from experience that squirrels love to chew on drip tubing, causing leaks difficult to detect until the damage has been done and plants are starting to die.

We are thrilled to celebrate Sam and Chloe’s success in creating a thriving and surviving beautiful yard in Vickery Place. We appreciate their dedication to thoughtful landscaping and their willingness to share helpful tips with our community!

We are also very grateful for our Yard of the Month sponsors, North Haven Gardens. Sam and Chloe will receive a generous gift card from North Haven Gardens for winning October’s Yard of the Month.