After 18 years at 3014 Norhill St, Tiffany Tyler and Charles Kuffner have found that balance in their yard: the soil is rich, the birds and pollinators are happy, the squirrels play, the children grow, it is both relaxing and fun for their family to tuck into the garden work, and it is beautiful!
The yard has taken shape through some trial and error, and some help from friends and neighbors. Stories abound in their yard with neighborhood and historical ties. The monkey grass forming a border along the north beds have been there since they moved in. The Texas maiden hair fern was passed along to them from a friend on Bayland when they moved in as well. The soil itself is enriched from a compost begun before they moved there, wheelbarrowed from three blocks away. The red firespike salvaged from a home in Norhill before it was torn down. And of course the bluebonnets, tended and prodded and now finally blooming at the southwest corner. My favorite is the fig ivy covering the low brick border along Woodland, which also celebrates 18 years with them here.
There is a lot of color to see as we come into blooming season: day lilies, pentas, many varieties of coleus (another of my favorites), purple salvia, columbine, ice plant, Texas gold lantana, purple sage, the native butterfly-attracting purple porterweed, edible nasturtium, foxtail fern, pineapple hamelia, Dutchman's pipe, echinaceas, native milkweeds, tiny volunteer violas, and a yellow globe ground cover. Adorning the porch and deck are a variety of zinnias and geraniums.
Over all of it towers their mature water oak to the west, giving them relief from the heat of the afternoon sun, and drummond red maples to the north. In spite of the shade, their satsuma and Meyer lemon trees are blooming with promise this year!
What's the secret to having such a nice yard? The Houston Museum of Natural Science plant sale gives her a lot to work with, as well as local favorite Buchanan's. And Tiffany has been inspired by the community of organic farmers and veggie enthusiasts at Central City Co-op, where she has been involved for many years in its development. The soil was in poor condition when they moved in, so regular household compost has helped nurture and feed the roots. Tiffany wants to feel relaxed and have fun gardening so that is rewarding in itself, and she doesn't worry over the weeds much - if pollinators enjoy them then they have a place at this corner too. Not to be overlooked is the abundance of yard art tucked all about the gardens, most of it gifted to her, or acquired from local artists or on trips, all quietly at home here.