The Grogan's Mill Village Association would like to show its appreciation to those homeowners who take care of their yards and homes. Your GMVA board members continually monitor our neighborhoods looking for well maintained lawns and homes.

We would like any residents in Grogans's Mill to tell us who they feel has the nicest yard. You can suggest a neighbor's home or your own. It would help if you would include some digital photos (photos are not nessary) Please note only the front and side of yards that visible from the street are needed. The committee will look at nominated yards & homes and select the winner for each month. The winner will get a $50 gift certificate to a store of their choice in the Grogan's Mill Shopping Center.

To nominate a yard, please include this information:

Home owner(s)
Home address and neighborhood
Your phone number
Your reason for the nomination
Pictures (digital) to support the nomination if possible

E-mail nominations or questions about Yard of the Month to: webmaster@grogansmillvillage.com

September 2010
Olwynne and Doug Gleason
West shaker Court

Olwynne and Doug Gleason moved from Northern California into their Grogan’s Point home 15 years ago. Both became Texas Master Gardeners to learn what to plant and how to garden in our challenging climate. They also volunteer at the Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Olwynne’s interest is ferns, shade plants and plants from her native South Africa. Her favorites include mother fern (Woodwardia orientalis), lace fern (Microlepsis strigosa), giant ligularia, and cape plumbago. Doug’s interest is roses, mostly antiques or old garden roses. His favorites are Old Blush, Carefree Beauty (aka Katy Road Pink), Ducher and Marie Daly. Their private back yard blends these favorites with crepe myrtle, duranta, camellias, hydrangeas, perennials, seasonal annuals and native hardwoods, pines and yaupon. They’ve bought many of their plants at Mercer’s annual March Mart sale – where they sell their favorites. Congratulations.

Franklin Palmer, Olwynne and Doug Gleason, Jim Upham

August 2010
Janette and Douglas Groves
North Mosswsrock Road

We are so pleased to be recognized as having the yard of the month. Our efforts are really a labor of love. Douglas takes care of the lawn, while I tend to the flowerbeds. In our yard you will find lantana, mock orange, purple passion flowers, cast iron plants, assorted fern, pentas, a butterfly bush, crepe myrtles, boxwood, nandina and numerous palms nestled within other plantings. In our minds, our yard is an extenction of our home, for both relaxation and entertaining. Composting is also important to us, as we break down vegetable scraps and other natural matter regularly, returning these nutrients and items to the soil. This prevents common every day items from being landfilled, while we reap the benefits of these items "feeding".
--Janette and Douglas Groves

Franklin Palmer, Janette & Douglas Groves, Jim Upham
Matt Beasley, GM Area Representative, picked this month's beautiful yard
Photo taken by Anne Upham

July 2010
David Lynn & Catherine Tompkins
Rolling Links Ct

We bought our house on Rolling Links Ct in March 2007 after returning from 2 years in Moscow, Russia. After 3 1/2 months of renovation of the house we moved in three years ago on July 15, 2007 and began work on the yard.

The front of the house could hardly be seen from the street as the beds were full of overgrown wild growth. We had everything removed with the exception of the trees and azaleas. Once the beds were cleared, we added soil and plants. With ideas from our friend, Terrol, who is a Master Gardener, we transplanted two Pittosporum and two Crepe Myrtles from the backyard, and added Knockout Roses, Blue Plumbago, Esperanza, Pom Pom Fern, Lantana, Moss Ross Portulaca, Scarlet Dianthas, and black mulch. Spring 2008 saw the addition of more soil. New plants added were Society Garlic, Pink Coneflower (Echinaca), Georgia Savory, Yellow African Bulbine, Fall Aster, Aztec Grass, Varigated Liriope, a third Crepe Myrtle, more Knockout Roses and Crystal Ruby Grass along with black mulch. We added more soil in Spring 2009. Plants added in '09 were Japanese Boxwood, Lipstick Salvia, a few Caladiums and a trellis supporting an evergreen vine. The Crystal Ruby Grass did not survive last summer's drought and the cold of this past winter, 2010. This spring we replaced the grass with more Society Garlic, May Night Sage, more Lipstick Salvia and added fresh black mulch.

For annual color, each autumn we add Snapdragons and once those are finished in late spring, we add Zinnias and Vincas for the hot season. We spent 15 years in Scotland and grew to love the colorful summer gardens there. We have tried to achieve this look by using plants that are proven to grow well in Texas and have had good luck with most of them. There has been a lot of trial and error in terms of placement of plants so it has taken almost four growing seasons to 'build' this yard. Most of the plants multiply so well, that we have thinned them out and planted in other parts of the yard or given to friends and relatives. Application of timed release fertilizer and a biological soil activator keep the plants healthy. We also use a rose and flower care product that protects and fertilizes.

Potted plants on the front porch area are Bougainvillea, Coleus, Caladiums, Dolce Creme Brulee and English Ivy. --Cathy and Lynn Tompkins

Franklin Palmer, David Lynn, Catherine Tompkins, Jim Upham.
Beautiful Yard found by Chris Wren
Photo taken by Anne Upham

June 2010
Connie & Stephen Coale
Rain Fern Ct.

I was so surprised and grateful to be chosen “Yard of the Month”! I grew up with “Happy Gardeners”. My Grandmother and Mother. It is therapy for me to be out working in my yard. I don’t think of anything, except for what I’m doing. And, it is great exercise too! I love it. My favorite flower is the geranium. They bloom all summer long and are so colorful. In this heat, you need a flower to stand the test of constant 90 degree weather. I also love impatients because they are so showy in the yard. This year I planted some sun impatients and they are doing fantastic. I enjoy spending time in the yard, even if it’s early morning, or late afternoon when it’s not too terribly hot. --Connie

From left to right: Franklin Palmer Connie Coale Jim Upham
Photo taken by Anne Upham

Area Representatives finding this beautiful yard are Pat G. & Virginia D.

May 2010
John & Gerry Strater, Buttonbush Court

Having started 20 years ago with a swampy, shaded yard with no flower beds or grass, we put in many yards of soil creating raised, curved beds now edged with limestone rock. As a former Montgomery County Master Gardener, my intent was to use native shrubs and perennials which also were low maintenance, tolerant of extreme weather conditions and attract birds and butterflies. Through trial and error I call "torture gardening", I have used spring bouquet viburnum, mock orange, buddlieas, butterfly iris, interspersed with azaleas, holly fern, Indian hawthorn with sago ferns giving the garden a more natural appearance. I've also used Chinese fringe and winter honeysuckle for their fall/early spring foliage and blooms. The perennial edges include dianthus, osteopernum (highway daisy), verbena and iris. This year I also planted fressia bulbs and was delighted with their beautiful colors and sweet fragrance. My husband and I put in our front stone patio shaded by a Japanese maple with a cedar bench so to sit and enjoy the view. --Gerry Strater

From left to right: Franklin Palmer, John & Gerry Strater, Jim Upham
photo taken by Anne Upham

April 2010
Stan & Ellen Ericksen, Evening Song Court

Stan and Ellen Ericksen have lived in their home in Grogan’s Mill for 16 years and enjoy working in their yard. Their hard work really shows with the beautiful display of plantings of Amaryllis, Society Garlic, Mums, Ferns and Red Photinias all of which are bordered by landscaping rocks. They have other plants which bloom at different times of the year. Their home is surrounded by several well maintained trees. They say they are pleasantly surprised and honored to receive this award and will display the “Yard Of The Month Sign” with pride. Congratulations to them.

From left to right Franklin Palmer, Stan and Ellen Ericksen, Jim Upham
Photo taken by Anne Upham

October 2009
Hazel Coulson, Autumnwood Way

Hazel Coulson and her late husband, Judge Ed Coulson, moved to their Autumnwood Way home in 1982 which they selected because of the unique lot which has frontage on three streets. They utilized a professional landscape contractor to complete their lawn. Since then, the landscape has been neatly maintained, upgraded when needed and added to on occasion.

Hurricane Ike took down a 12' caliper Pecan tree, and was replaced by a Live Oak. Next, a Bradford Pear at the front door developed a disease and had to be removed. A complete spot makeover where the Bradford Pear was resulted in a new fresh look which includes the centerpiece fountain, an ortamental iron trellis, a beautiful Camellia Sasanqua, Japanese Boxwood, Asian Jasmine and highlighted by fall garden mums in clay pots. The yard is enhanced with Pink Crepemytrles ("my favorite color" adds Hazel), Magnolia Solangeana (Pink Magnolia or Tulip Tree by other names),Indica Azaleas,Chinese Wisteria on a back wall, showy White Azaleas along the north wall, a formal planting of Dwarf Buford Holly, spreading Junipers and Asian Jasmine groundcover bordering the driveway and a massive Brown Turkey Fig as a centerpiece to the circle flagstone walk in the front yard.

All of this beautiful, well maintained landscape comes alive at night with the landscape lighting which was added this past spring with light fixtures highlighting the upper branches and trunks of the Live Oaks, a single light illuminating the intricate branches of the Brown Turkey fig (10' tall x 12' wide), walk lights and a single light spotlighting the beautiful fountain.

Hazel encourages visitors to drive by and admire her landscape both day and night ("With the lights the night view is wonderful"). "I am thrilled to have been selected as Yard Of The Month".

The October 2009 Yard of the Month home. Franklin Palmer, Hazel Coulson,
her dog--Isabella, and Jim Upham.

September 2009
Margaret and Scott Chickering - Breezin Court

Margaret and Scott Chickering moved to Grogan’s Mill in the summer of 1996. They were happy to be moving back to Texas, but after having done gardening in Pennsylvania for the prior six years, they realized that they needed to plant things that would not require a lot of attention during the hottest period of the summer. They also considered that it would be necessary to deal with shade as well as sun. They have planted azaleas, pear and flowering guava for spring blooms. The summer brings blooms from crape myrtles, lantanas, day lilies, gardenia, oleanders, little gem magnolias, hibiscus and knockout roses. These are augmented with a few perennials, ferns, sago palms and rocks. With a heavy layer of mulch, very little attention is required during the hottest months, except for watering.

The September Yard of the Month was selected by Donna Gossett.

August 2009
Jane & Tom Clements - Foxtail Place

Jane and Tom Clements moved to The Woodlands 33 years ago to a new house with absolutely no landscaping. They loved the idea of living in the natural beauty of the forest so they have kept the yard pretty much natural. Since becoming a Master Gardener in 2002, Jane has focused on incorporating more Texas natives into the landscape. Hinckley's Columbine, Gulf Coast Penstemon, Louisiana iris, and arrowood viburnum bloom in the spring, followed by lanceleaf coreopsis, elderberry, Texas lantana, cardinal flower, turk's cap and crinum lilies in the summer. Inland seaoats, chile petin, strawberry bush and American beautyberry ripen in the fall. Also, an advocate of organic gardening, Jane wants their yard to be a welcome oasis for area wildlife. The Clements enjoy sharing their yard with all sorts of birds and butterflies, anoles and geckoes, several box turtles and a pesky armadillo. Pictured is Franklin Palmer, Tom Clements, Jane Clements, and Jim Upham.

The Yard of the Month was selected by Bill Sargent.

July 2009
Lisa Lawson - Rolling Links
Lisa says she does all her own planting and likes to work in the garden.

The Yard of the Month was selected by Virginia Dellinger and Pat Goodpastor.

June 2009
Tony & Laura Catania - South Red Cedar Circle
Tony & Laura Catania have lived in Grogan's Mill since February 1978. Hurricane Ike did extensive damage to their yard. Laura, with the assistance of their good friend, Heather Wassaf, redesigned their front yard layout and they are looking forward to watching it develop over the coming years. Yard plantings include: Red Oak, Chinese Pistash, White Dogwood, Wax Myrtle, Encore Azaleas, Gardenias, African Iris and Loropetalums. Congratulations to the Catanias.

The Yard of the Month and yards for recognition were selected by Chris Wren

The June 2009 Yard of the Month home. Franklin Palmer, Cris Wren,
Jim Upham, Laura Catania, and Tony Catania.

May 2009
Sue & Russell
We have lived here for 27 years. We mowed, edged, pruned, took care of brown patch and other infestations; however as time went on we had to change. When the trees got bigger and the roots took over we had to plant upward so we had a couple of tons of rock put in, 10 yards compost.

Now we have Holly Fern, Agapanthus, butterfly bushes, fern berry, Split leaf philandern, and monkey grass for our border. Thank you for this honor, we will display our Yard of the Month sign with pride.

Yard picked by Franklin Palmer & Jim Upham.

The May 2009 Yard of the Month home. Franklin Palmer, Sue, and Jim Upham.
Photo by Anne Upham

April 2009
Pearl & Bob Brisson have lived in their home on South Millbend Drive since 1991. Pearl can take full credit for the amazing yard she has strived to achieve. She has spent years of snipping and clipping and trying different plants to have color of some kind year round. She has the greenest thumb of anyone I have known. She continuously tries to bring in new plants and nurtures those that are having a hard time with our weather and somehow she manages to pull them through.

Pearl enjoys the positive comments from neighbors and passersby and gets a fulfilling feeling from bringing joy to those people. The thought of being awarded the Yard of the Month has never even entered her mind but this becomes the ultimate compliment and highest honor she could have received.

selected by Jim Upham

The April 2009 Yard of the Month home. Franklin Palmer, Pearl Brisson,
Bob Brisson, Jim Upham

A wide assortment of ornamental trees, shrubs and flowers decorate the Verhalen's shady yard. Among them are Impatiens, Potato Vine, assorted Ferns, Iris, Camellia Japonica, Camellia Sasanqua, Goldust Aucuba, Azaleas and Aspidistra. For the more sunny locations in the yard, Linda selected Nandina Compacta, Brunsfelsia (Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow), Viburnum, assorted Liriopes, ornamental grasses, Knockout Roses, Iris and for annual color she chose Petunias, Zinnias and Silvia, among others.

It is evident the Verhalens take pride in their house and yard and encourage others to "Take Up The Banner" and show pride in The Woodlands by keeping their yards neat and clean. Also, be safe by meeting and greeting the neighbors and appreciate all of the opportunities available in The Woodlands. Congratulations to Steve & Linda on their award.

The October 2008 Yard of the Month was chosen by Sally Johnson.

September 2008
Dan and Judy McCarty have lived in their home on Watertree Drive for 8 years. One of the first things they tackled upon moving in was to clear many of the immense pines and the brush which were blocking the view of the front of their house. Still the front does not receive much natural sunlight. Because of this, the landscape mainly consists of plantings of low lying junipers, variegated gingers, azaleas and iris in spots where the sun does shine, with the sidewalk bordered in lirope. A regiment of fertilizer, along with keeping the fungus and pests in check helps to maintain a beautiful lawn.

August 2008
Homer and Cheryl Dunn have lived in their home in Grogan’s Mill for the past eight (8) years. Cheryl reports that Homer deserves all of the credit for their yard. He spends many hours gardening and is creative with spot watering. He uses soaker hoses and containers to insure deep water to plants that need it while not watering the yard as a whole. He chooses plants with an eye to color throughout the year. He, also, incorporates an herb garden in the front yard to provide fresh herbs for cooking during the spring and summer months. This year his herb garden included Basil, Silver Lemon Thyme, Dill, Texas Tarragon, Pineapple Sage, Italian and Greek Oregano, Rosemary and Lemon Balm. August is a challenging month for the yard and time is spent keeping things alive as well as preparing beds for fall plants. Homer is proud of this work, but states that he is fortunate to live in an area where many people take pride in their yards and work very hard to make the neighborhood look lovely all year long. He enjoys sharing plants and information with neighbors.

The August 2008 GMVA Yard Of The Month was selected by Donna Gossett.

July 2008
The winners of the July 2008 Grogans Mill Yard Of The Month are Ron, Julia and Kevin Lassater who reside on Wishbonebush Rd. The Lassater family has been in The Woodlands since 1976 and has lived in their present home since 1988. They enjoy landscaping their yard with assorted ferns, tropical plants and very unique plants. Roses and an assortment of plants with purple flowers give the yard the look of an English Garden.

Julia always enjoys attending Earth Day and Wildflower Day where she looks for native Texas plants from her dear friend, Diane Cabiness.

The July Yard Of The Month Was selected by Virginia Dellinger.

June 2008
Grogan's Mill Village Association congratulates Violet Hargrove on winning the June 2008 Yard of the Month distinction. She received a gift certificate to the shops at the Grogan's Mill Village Center. Violet Hargrove's home is located on North Red Cedar Circle and is an inspiration to us all. While handling her job as an accountant and watching over her grandson, Violet does her own planning and planting, with the exception of mowing & edging. She has lived in this Grogan's Mill location for ten years and has built her landscaping as she has time. Among raised beds surrounded by red sandstone, you will find begonias, roses, lily of the Nile, various shrubs, scheffelera and numerous other healthy, beautiful plants. We can all find motivation & inspiration in Ms. Hargrove's efforts. Congratulations Violet!

May 2008
The GMVA has selected the home of Valerie Silva who lives on Laughing Brook Court as the May 2008 Yard Of The Month. Here, Ms. Silva receives a gift certificate to the Grogan's Mill Shopping Center from Jim Upham (left) and Franklin Palmer (right).

She writes about her yard: I have lived in the High Oaks neighborhood for sixteen years. When landscaping I made sure I picked plants and ground covers which could take the extreme Texas heat and droughts.The large bushes in the front are red tip photinia and provide not only shade from the heat of the evening sun, but privacy as well. The extensive creeping jasmine ground cover keeps the soil from eroding and retains moisture for the beds surrounding the house. I have extended the mulch beds over the years. This makes the yard not only easier to maintain, but also cuts down on watering.I have used rocks from the Hill Country to further enhance the landscaping and river stone to help with drainage. I have beautiful orange lilies and purple Mexican heather that provide color several times a year.

I take great pride in my yard and love working in it. Whenever I am out in the yard I always have someone stop and comment about how nice it looks, so all the sore muscles and hard work over the years has all been worth it. This is a very big honor for me.

April 2008
Grogan’s Mill Village Association congratulates homeowners Lee and Debbie Stoerner on having the Village’s April 2008 “Yard of the Month”. Lee and Debbie Stoerner have lived in the same home on Brookflower Road in The Woodlands since 1987. Their front yard faces west so they have full sun all day. They have tried various types of plants and hedges to see what would do the best. Their large green plants are Split Leaf Philodendrons started from small cuttings in 1997.

They have found so far that in their large rounded flower bed Schefflera and Hibiscus plants do well. They try to keep small seasonal plants close to the scalloped edging for color. Along the front and side against the house Red Photinias do very well. The more sun the better they do. They also keep regular hedges trimmed to about two feet in front of the front Photinias for more green color. The grass has been their biggest problem. They have had bare spots, brown patch and various other hindrances including strange weather conditions from drought to constant rain. They just treat, maintain and replace sod as needed.

They enjoy working in their yard as weather and physical conditions allow.

Grogan’s Mill Village Association congratulates homeowners Chris and Jennifer Laughman on having the Village’s September 2007 “Yard of the Month”. Chris and Jennifer Laughman and their 6 year old daughter, Madelynn, have lived at on Deerfoot Circle in The Woodlands for the past 8 1/2 years. In 2006 they re-landscaped their front lawn. They installed St. Augustine grass and planted tropical hibiscus, crepe myrtle and desert rose plants. They have found that these plants do very well in the Texas heat and humidity. They are also fairly drought tolerable. The lawn is a blaze of color in the Spring. In the future, they plan to plant additional tropical hibiscus.

The September 2007 "Yard of the Month" home. Jim Upham, Chris Laughman,
Jennifer Laughman, Madelynn Laughman, Franklin Palmer