In Answer to Your Questions

We have a few updates to pass on to questions we've received from neighbors. They are regarding a water leak near the Norhill Esplanade, the repair of the sign and retaining wall at the corner of greenspace at Houston Avenue and White Oak Drive, and the status of repairs to the bollards and large rocks at the entrance to our neighborhood at the corner of Watson and Usener Streets. Also, you might see new signage around the neighborhood courtesy of Harris County Constable  Alan Rosen, Precinct 1 office.

The Water Leak near the Norhill Esplanade

originally identified and reported on  February 20, 2025, was fixed on March 19, 2025. We understand that many, including the WHCA Board, would have liked this to have been addressed at a more rapid pace, but we have received information indicating that the repair was basically triaged in terms of the many other repairs throughout the city that were more serious. In the end, the City of Houston Public Works did make the repair, and we are all thankful.

The Retaining Wall Repair at Houston Avenue and White Oak Drive

We still have not received an update from the Greater Northside Management District (GNMD) regarding when they will begin repairing the signage at the parkette at White Oak and Houston Avenue. We will continue to reach out to the GNMD until we receive a timeline for this repair. Again, thank you for your patience.

The Watson Street Esplanade

The damage caused by the February 13 two-car collision to the Watson Street Esplanade bollards and boulders has been fixed. Many thanks to Ryan Taylor, WHCA Director of Beautification, and his volunteers for addressing the damage and working to repair it. The esplanade looks beautiful with its new coat of paint and brand-new larger than ever boulder. As always, the Beautification Team is looking for more volunteers to help beautify the greenspaces across our neighborhood. They'd love to hear from you and welcome you into their ranks; email beautification@woodland-heights.org.

New Signage Comes to Woodland Heights

You may have noticed the new signage that Harris Country Precinct 1 has installed across our neighborhood. We've got 8 to 10 new signs throughout the neighborhood, letting the public know that Harris County Precinct 1 Constables are on patrol throughout Woodland Heights.

Beautification Update

It's Spring, and everything is in bloom ... that also means the Beautification Team is busy making repairs and planning ways to beautify our neighborhood. Here's a report on what we've been up to recently.

Watson Street - New Boulders and Curb Dressing have brightened the corner of Watson at Usener Streets. The Beautification Committee and its volunteers spruced up the plants, fixed the damaged irrigation system, got a bigger and better boulder (the one there previously was demolished in the February accident), reset the bollards, and painted the concrete surround for the esplanades. Many thanks to everyone who pitched in to make all the repairs and upgrades: Pat Rutledge, Pat Schaper, Pat German, and Louise Moss; you guys are amazing! 

Historical Marker - The historical marker that used to be located at Travis Elementary at the corner of Beauchamp and Highland is temporarily in storage. It was moved before the renovation of that corner of Travis Elementary's play area. If you have never had a moment to read the sign, it details some of the historic roots of our neighborhood. Mark it as a good read for future reference once we've relocated the signage to a new spot in the neighborhood. We'll update you on that location shortly.

Wildflowers Growing - Houston Avenue Esplanade - Wildflowers are growing on the Houston Avenue Esplanade. Half of the esplanade was accidentally mowed by a landscaping group hired to maintain I-45. They've been contacted and have removed that esplanade from their list. Signage indicating the esplanade was adopted by the WHCA and will come from the Houston Parks and Recreation Department on April 9, so we should not have a problem with mowing again. This year, the lack of rain has affected the sprouting of wildflowers, but we will be reseeding again this fall and looking for volunteers to help us. Stay tuned in September when we send that call out. Suppose you or your business is interested in supporting this Wildflower Planting Project by contributing to buying seeds in the fall or supporting a watering program. In that case, we'd love to hear from you! Businesses, individuals, and those who like to beautify our neighborhood, we'd love to hear from you. Email beautification@woodland-heights.org.

Volunteers Always Welcome - It takes a village to handle things, and we appreciate all the volunteers who keep things going. If you'd like to join the WHCA Beautification Crew of volunteers, we'd love to have you! Individuals, businesses, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc., are welcome. You just need to be willing to take the time, dig in, and enjoy volunteering to make a difference in our neighborhood. It'll be fun, rewarding, and a great way to meet your neighbors and make new friends.

If you're interested in joining our crew, email me at  beautification@woodland-heights.org.

Beautification Update

By Ryan Taylor

The start of this year has been filled with a lot of work for Beautification volunteers. We thank each and every one of our neighbors who take time out of their busy days to pitch in to help keep our neighborhood and its greenspaces clean and tidy!

Norhill Esplanade - A shout-out to Adam Linder for volunteering to refill the dog waste bags on the Norhill Esplanade. The WHCA purchases the bags, but we appreciate Adam's help filling the containers. Just a note to all doggie parents who use the bags and the Norhill Esplanade—please remember to pick up after your furry friends and dispose of their waste at home. The esplanade is one we all use, and it's much nicer when there aren't any surprises lying around in the grass."
A note regarding the water leak near the Norhill Esplanade. The board checked the leak on February 20, 2025, We determined it is not coming from the sprinkler system on the esplanade, it is on the COH side of the water meter and we have reported it via 3-1-1. We are working to get COH Public Works and Engineering to make the repair as it is on their side of the water meter and something they are responsible for fixing (we can't make the repair for them since it's on their side of the meter). We submitted the Service Request via 3-1-1 and have informed both our Courncil Member Mario Castillo, District H and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department of the problem and the submitted Service Request. They are support us in trying to get this repair made. We will keep you informed when we know more.

Historic Marker - The historic marker that used to be located at Travis Elementary at the corner of Beauchamp and Highland is temporarily in storage. It was moved before the renovation of that corner of Travis Elementary's play area. If you have never had a moment to read the sign, it details some of the historic roots of our neighborhood. Mark it as a good read for future reference once we've relocated the signage to a new spot in the neighborhood. We'll update you on that location shortly.

Ley Plaza, Woodland Park, Watson Esplanade - Many thanks to Pat Rutledge for winterizing the Ley Plaza & Woodland Parks sprinkler systems and Watson Esplanades before last month's freeze. We did not have any burst pipes or missing sprinkler heads because of his volunteer work. (The problem we're currently experiencing at the Norhill Esplanade is not part of our irrigation system. We checked our system the day one of our board members spotted it. The leak is actually on the COH side of the water line, and we've submitted a 3-1-1, as per COH policy, for repairs. In addition, we've alerted both Council Member Castillo's Office and Houston Parks and Recreation Department so they are aware of the problem. Both have responded and are working with us to address this problem. As we learn more, we will pass that information on to you. Thanks for your understanding).

Holiday Lights - Before I forget, thank you to Louise Moss for working on getting all the holiday lights picked up and packed up for next year. It's a seamless process that many may not notice as they go about their daily lives – but organization and dedication are the keys to making something work so smoothly. Louise has a great talent for both and I'm sure she'd appreciate having some apprentices to help so she can pass on her knowledge to them.

Wildflowers Growing - Just in case you think we forgot about the Houston Avenue Main Street Esplanade, and you're thinking it's looking a little ragged. Be assured we have not; wildflowers are growing there, and signage will be coming soon. So bear with us as things grow …  Spring is just around the corner.

Volunteers Always Welcome - It takes a village to handle things, and we appreciate all the volunteers who keep things going. If you'd like to join the WHCA Beautification Crew of volunteers, we'd love to have you! Individuals, businesses, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, etc., are welcome. You just need to be willing to take the time, dig in, and enjoy volunteering to make a difference in our neighborhood. It'll be fun and rewarding and a great way to meet your neighbors and make new friends.

If you're interested in joining our crew, email me at beautification@woodland-heights.org.

Upper East Side Beautification

As of the posting of this newsletter on January 31, 2025, there are now only 48 days left until Spring! Something many of us may be wishing for. The Vernal or Spring Equinox to return (in the Northern Hemisphere, the March equinox is called the vernal equinox, because it signals the beginning of Spring (vernal means fresh or new like the Spring).

In anticipation of Spring and in the hopes of enhancing the entrance from Main Street and I-45 would be a more inviting one if it greeted residents, guests, and others into our neighborhood. Last November, following the adoption, Boy Scout Troop 30 (the 3T0) pitched in to help Director of Beautification Ryan Taylor and his crew prep the Upper East Side Houston Avenue Esplanade and scatter wildflower seeds at the site. Rain came the following week – something we were not sure would happen, so that was a pleasant surprise and a very helpful one as baby bluebonnets are now growing. Here’s hoping we get more along with a variety of wildflowers joining them. Something we can all look forward to now that the snow has melted – let’s see what February brings.

Soon two signs will grace the esplanades - one indicating WHCA is maintaining the esplanades with the permission of the Houston Parks & Recreation Department. And the other sign like the one at the top of this article to remind everyone that there are seeds working hard to make flowers when Spring comes.

Estella Espinosa

Yard of the Month - 1101 Highland

Jane Nelson and Deb Richardson have lived at 1101 Highland Street since May 1991. They enjoy sitting on their front porch when the weather is good so they can see their front porch and greet neighbors who pass by.

Their garden includes sage, Burford hollies, planted soon after they moved in in 1991, hawthorns, foxtail ferns, dwarf azalea, esperanza, an orange tree that has never given us oranges, amaryllis, liriope edges the beds, and wedelia, which keeps their front easement full of yellow flowers when it's in bloom.

The Amarillys and Oaks on their property hold a special place in Jane and Deb's hearts.

"Our amaryllis plants are from bulbs obtained from Deb's late mother's yard in the early 90s. The amaryllis bloom in the spring each year and have remained prolific in bulb production, so we have been able to pass along bulbs to friends and family."

The Oaks date back a century to the original home's owner. "One great feature of our yard is the stately oaks on the east side along Norhill. We had the good fortune to meet the granddaughter of our home's original owner, who planted the oaks back 100 years ago!"

With the help of a gardener, their yard provides continuous enjoyment for the couple.

"We see bees, butterflies, lizards and squirrels. The squirrels typically ensure that we never have red berries on our hollies. We love ixoras and have tried repeatedly to plant them. Unfortunately, they proved too tropical for our care and were repeatedly killed by freezes. Currently, we have chosen hardier plants, such as the hawthorns and wedelia, as recommended by our gardener."

Deb continued, "We're not at all proficient! Jane's late mother was a Montgomery County Master Gardener who advised us on plant selection and care. Now, however, primary credit goes to our gardener, Hector Rodriguez, who visits every other week."

Deb likes being outdoors and puttering in the yard/garden. Jane enjoys looking at the garden. Deb spends a few hours weekly keeping the yard looking neat. It is maintained primarily by Hector.

"Our current inspiration is a mix of choosing beauty and hardiness! Our favorite plants are the amaryllis because they connect to our loved late mother/ mother-in-law and our past."

Deb concludes by saying, "Being chosen as YOM is a lovely recognition! We're pleased to have been asked!"

Yard of the Month - 1132 Highland

Longtime residents Brook Ward and Jason Stark lived on Euclid Street before moving to Highland four years ago.

"We moved in September of 2020.  We previously lived on Euclid St.  We have two boys who are now grown.  When they went away to college, we decided to downsize," said Brook. "We are not too picky about what plants we like.  It's important to us to have something that we can easily maintain, and that looks good.  Of course, color is important and we look to add colorful seasonal plants to the base we already have."

While they appreciate the front porch and yard, most of their time is spent in the pool area, which they have landscaped with potted plants. In the front, we enjoy the porch, which includes the flower beds on either side.

"We had a huge side yard that was perfect for adding a pool. So now, we have two options when we want to be outside. We can sit on the front porch swing and enjoy our garden, or we can choose to sit out by the pool and enjoy a little more privacy."

Their garden includes some natives, but they worked to match the plants in their yard with ones that match the Houston climate. While they had a good base of plant knowledge, to begin with, they worked with a landscape artist to provide them with help on what plants were year-round and which ones were seasonal to fill out their garden.

"Salvia, Lantana, Yucca, Vinca, Cherry Laurel, Verigated Ginger, Potato Vine, Pencil Cactus, Begonias, Oleanders, Foxtail Ferns, Ligularia, Canna, boxwood bushes, and a few we can't remember the names," Brook continued.

Regarding who has a green thumb, Brook says, "I wouldn't say we are proficient. Jason tends to have a greener thumb and is also creative. He enjoys designing and piecing together several plants into one pot, like the large pot to the right of our porch and pots by the pool."

Brook and Jason's garden does not take many hours to maintain, and they pull weeds and trim back plants as needed.

"The favorite thing would be planting. It's rewarding to see the final product. My least favorite would be adding soil and mulch. It can be backbreaking and quite messy. We enjoy getting outside and working in the yard when we have nice weather. In the summer, not so much!."

In terms of having their yard recognized as WHCA Yard of the Month, Brook remarks,

"It feels great! We pride ourselves in keeping an organized and clean house and that extends to the garden. We walk a lot in the neighborhood and have the opportunity to see other yards. We often comment on how good someone's yard looks. So it's nice to know that our yard has been noticed and adds beauty to our community."

Yard of the Month - 927 Merrill Street

Lloyd and Ann Jones have lived in their craftsman bungalow home at 927 Merrill since 1983 and around 2000, respectively. Working together, they've seamlessly combined the beauty of their garden to create a harmonious relationship between the outside world and their home.

The vibrant colors of the flowers and the soothing greenery create a picturesque setting, though it's unclear who came up with the home's paint combination. According to Lloyd,

"I would say we both did, but Ann says it was her idea, lol."

When asked what his favorite part of their yard is, Lloyd continued,

"I would say the backyard, but we do spend a lot of our time in the front yard. Ann and I each have our own beds. If you're facing our house, mine is on the right and hers on the left. Ann's bed has Echinacea, Zinnias, Hummingbird Bush, and several different varieties of Salvia - including Hot Lips Salvia, Day Lillies,  Fire Cracker Plant, some Sage, and Purple Verbena. In my bed, I have several varieties of native grass, including Muhly Grass, Zinnias, Henry Duelburg, Salvias, and some Homestead Verbena."

Their garden, filled with native plants from various Heights area nurseries and garden centers, including Joshua's Native Plants and Garden Antiques, Buchanan's Native Plants, Home Depot, Houston Garden Center, and Another Place in Time, is a haven for several flying, crawling, and buzzing beneficial insects.

"For sure, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. We also have a nest of Mockingbirds, and we've seen Blue Jays, Cardinals, and we've had some Cooper Hawks in our bird bath as well."

Lloyd has been gardening since as far back as he can recall,

"You may not be old enough to remember, but Frito Lay used to put Zinna seed packets in their products, so that was the first thing I ever grew."

In addition to the plants purchased from nurseries, some plants handed down from family and friends are found in the beautiful landscape.

"We have some Night Blooming Cereus we got from Ann's mom, another type of Cereus I got from a swim buddy, some Begonias, and we each have our own Staghorn ferns that we combined and cultivated. It has grown into a giant; it's now about five feet across."

A gardener's work is never finished, as gardens constantly grow and change with the seasons and weather. Lloyd and Ann have different approaches to keeping their gardens beautiful. They both find joy in the process but also face challenges like keeping up with weeds and adapting to Houston's weather conditions.

Lloyd says, "The least favorite [part of gardening] would be the constant battle with the weeds. I battle the yard about once a week. I think Ann's Zen time is sweeping up the flowers and leaves from the Crepe Myrtle tree daily, lol."

While Ann's work in the garden keeps Houston's weather in mind. "With the heat, I get out there very early in the morning and stay as long as possible, then I go out around 8 in the evening and periodically throughout the day. If it wasn't for the heat, I would be out there all the time!"

In terms of their garden favorites, it depends on the season and the creatures attracted by the beautiful blooms,

Lloyd, "That's a tough one. The Muhly Grass has some bloom spikes in the fall, and that's nice. All of our hummingbird bushes are also amazing in the fall, attracting the hummingbirds."

Ann adds, "I like all types of salvias and cone flowers—all the ones that attract pollinators and do a great job of standing up to our heat as well," and leaves would-be gardeners intimidated with some advice, "If you do a little every day, a beautiful yard is very easy to maintain and grow!"

Hats Off to Beautification Committee!

We Appreciate WHCA Volunteers!
A BIG THANK YOU to all the our dedicated Beautification Volunteers! Your willingness to give your time and service to do pick up trash, pull weeds, and just keep our Woodland Heights greenspaces looking beautiful is much appreciated! We'd like to recognize each and every one of you and  give you some well-deserved credit where it's due!.

Most of the WHCA Beautification Volunteers have been donating their time and hard work maintaining Woodland Heights garden spaces, esplanades, and greenspaces for a number of years. They would all love to have some extra hands to grab a shovel and pitch in to help. They've got the experience and knowledge to pass on about gardening and invite you to join them on one of the many volunteer workdays scheduled throughout the year. Here's some of the work they've been doing this past month.

WHCA Beautification Committee Volunteers at September 21st Ley Park Plaza Clean up

Ley Plaza Park Volunteer Clean Up!
This past Saturday, September 21, the new Director of Beautification, Ryan Taylor, working with veteran volunteers Pat Rutledge and Louise Moss and a new crew of volunteers tackled the Ley Plaza Park ravine and the Butterfly Garden. They cleared a mountain of trash that had been piling up on the north side of the park covering the drainage system that is part of the flood mitigation system. Just like the street storm sewers located throughout the neighborhood they work to divert water runoff away from your homes.

WHCA Volunteers clear debris from Ley Plaza Park Ravine

Parks and Greenspaces Role In a Community
Parks and greenspaces, like Ley Plaza Park, and Woodland Park are more than just greenspaces to relax and play in when the weather is fine. During storms and floods they retain water to keep it from flooding your homes. That is why volunteer work like that provided by the WHCA Beautification Committee is so important. They work to keep our neighborhood parks and greenspaces free of litter and debris so we can enjoy them - and this also helps the water flow away from homes when the weather threatens.

Beautification Ongoing Projects Report
Most of the WHCA Beautification Volunteers have been donating their time and hard work maintaining Woodland Heights garden spaces, esplanades, and greenspaces for a number of years. They would all love to have some extra hands to grab a shovel and pitch in to help. We invite you to join for one of the many volunteer workdays scheduled throughout the year. In the meantime, here's some of the work they've been doing this past month.

Watson Esplanade - Thank you to Pat Schaper and Louise Moss pulled weeds and pruned the rose and blue mist bushes for spending 7 hours! Additional work accomplished included:

• Checking the sprinkler system for correct operation and checking the lighting on esplanade signage 

• Volunteers are also on a weekly schedule to keep the Gulf Muhly grass watered and healthy   

Norhill Esplanade - The dead pine tree in the middle of the esplanade has been marked for removal by Houston Parks & Recreation Department's (HPARD) Urban Forestry section. Thank you to Parks!

Ley Plaza Park - Thank you to Pat Rutledge! for working with CenterPoint who has agreed to clear the power lines that run inside the park.

• HPARD's Urban Forestry will be removing 3 – dead/diseased trees in the next coming weeks and will be scheduliing the removal of underbrush around the perimeter of the park in the Fall

Next Volunteer Opportunity!
Your next opportunity to volunteer to clean up greenspaces is on Saturday, September 28, 2024. The Houston Parks and Recreation Department will be holding a Park Recovery and Restoration Event at Woodland Park. Volunteers are encouraged to participate! See flyer below for more information!

Keep Woodland Heights Beautiful! Volunteer Opportunities

According to Keep Houston Beautiful's 2020 Litter Study, released in 2021, we have some cleaning up to do! While the study indicates significant improvements over the years, it also averages out that there are still 50 billion pieces of litter on the ground or about 152 pieces of litter for every American. But here's the inspiring part-one of the driving forces behind this tidying up is VOLUNTEERS! People just like you who have rolled up their sleeves, put on their gloves, reached for a trash bag and pitched in to be a part of the solution. Your efforts have made a significant impact, and we're proud of what we've achieved together.

In our Woodland Heights neighborhood, we can all help by looking at our greenspaces and parks and engaging in ongoing cleanup activities sponsored by the Woodland Heights Civic Association's Beautification Committee and the Friends of Woodland Park. Both organizations are working tirelessly to minimize the impact littering makes in our greenspaces and parks, and your participation is crucial in this ongoing effort.

The Woodland Heights Civic Association is working hard to care for the Watson and Norhill Esplanades, Ley Plaza Park, and its Butterfly Garden, the North Houston Avenue Esplanade (near Main Street and Houston Avenue). The Friends of Woodland Park concentrate on keeping one of Houston's oldest parks clean, with numerous volunteer work days and events.

Mark your calendars for the next WHCA Beautification Work Day, scheduled for Saturday, September 21st, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.The focus will be Ley Plaza Park (corner of White Oak and Gladys Streets). This is a great opportunity to join your neighbors in making a visible difference in our community.

The Friends of Woodland Park also have events focused on the environment and our feathered friends who live there from September 20th to the 22nd. September 20th celebrates World National Cleanup Day, the 21st features a Fall Bird Survey, and September 22nd is a cleanup at Woodland Park.

Both groups are always looking for people - individuals, groups, businesses, corporations, clubs, etc. - interested in devoting a few hours to volunteering for a good cause. There's a role for everyone, and your contribution, no matter how big or small, is valued. Upcoming neighborhood events and cleanup dates for both organizations can be found on the Woodland Heights Civic Association and Friends of Woodland Park Event Calendars on their respective websites.

Texas Parks & Wildlife - Bayou City Episode

• Take a tour of the last preserved bayou in the Bayou City with Mark Kramer from the Armand Bayou Nature Center and learn of the importance the habitat plays in flood control.

• Houston Parks & Recreation Department (HPARD) has begun restoring riparian habitat along the bayous. HPARD's Kelli Ondracek discusses the restoration project at Milby Park.

• Little White Oak Bayou in Woodland Park is among the unique riparian habitats slated for restoration by HPARD.

“Meet some of Houston’s most dedicated bayou conservationists, learn about issues the bayou ecosystem has faced over the past century, and see some hope for keeping an urban area and its watery wilderness in balance.”

— Program 3004 - October 31-November 6, 2021, and May 1- 7, 2022

Lights Out for Birds

The Texas Coast, including the Houston area, is an important migratory path for birds. Most migratory birds fly at night, and lights on buildings can disorient birds on their paths. Businesses and individuals across the city are encouraged to turn off all nonessential lights from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. throughout spring, and especially during the peak period of April 23rd-May 10th.

Curbside native tree project - Trees on sale!

Curbside Tree Sale

from $0.00

Woodland Heights is known for its beautiful Oak trees. To keep it that way we need to get more trees planted than are being removed.

Curbside trees must be planted in the right of way between the sidewalk and the road.

$100 purchase Includes:

• One 15 gallon tree

• Materials for planting (soil, mulch, stakes, tree guard)

• Naturally replenishing moisture donut/ring

Tree Type: Select Tree Type Live OakPecanLoblolly PineRed MapleShumard OakDonation - $100.00Donation - $25.00Invasive Tree Replacement - $0Invasive Tree Removal - $0Tree Grant Request - $0

Add to cart

Native Curbside Trees

• City of Houston Natural Resource Details

• City of Houston Right of Way (curbside) trees

Invasive Tree Removal

City of Houston will remove invasive trees at no cost to the homeowner. WHCA will provide a native tree when one becomes available through donation. Select Invasive Tree Replacement at checkout and we will contact you.

Review the HPARD Invasive Plants list to see if you have any on your curbside.

2021 Curbside Tree Project

26 new trees ranging from live oaks, red buds, red maples, shumard oaks, loblolly pine to pecans were purchased from Trees for Houston. Some were placed on homeowners' property while some were donated. Donated trees were planted curbside on blocks which lacked shade plus some were donated to St. Mark's Methodist Church for planting along Redan.

Big shout out of gratitude and thanks to:

Emily Guyre who recruited four St. Thomas High School students: Jackson Guyre, Philip Gallagher, Landon Croker, and Pablo Ramirez. Ben McClure and Eric Nelson rounded out the team. This crew was incredibly hard working and fun despite the rain.

Thank you to those that donated trees on behalf of neighbors and to Nuro, whose donations sponsored trees along Redan at St. Mark's.

Last but certainly not least, we want to shout out a huge thank you to Ms. Saldana, principal of Hogg MS, for graciously allowing us to use their parking lot for drop off and staging of the trees, mulch and stakes! We appreciate it!

- Allison Hartzell, Director of Beautification

Heights Garden Club plant & Seed Swap

We are excited to welcome spring by hosting Heights Garden Club's (HGC) Plant & Seed Swap. We will be set up at the South end of the Norhill Esplanade. WHCA will be setup for Home Tour ticket sales and Constable Patrol sticker pickup.

• You don't have to be an HGC member to participate but it's open for all to join at https://heightsgardenclub.org/.

• Bring labeled seeds, clippings, and plants.

• Bring a chair and your family out to enjoy the day. There will be tables but you may bring your own if you have lots of plants to share.

• Take plants that will expand varieties in your garden.

• Native plants are preferred to non-native or invasive plants.

See you Saturday, March 26 from 10-12pm at Norhill Esplanade.

And don’t forget to get your Home Tour Tickets.

Nominate for 2022 Board Elections

In accordance with the WHCA bylaws, an election will be held at our Annual meeting on the second Tuesday of May. The WHCA is now accepting nominations for seats on the Woodland Heights Civic Association Board.

An election will be held at our 2022 Annual meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 for the following Board of Directors positions:

• President

• Dir - Beautification

• Dir - Communications

• Dir - Deed Restrictions

• Dir - Security

Go to the 2022 Nominating Form and nominate yourself or a neighbor - woodland-heights.org/board-elections

Yard of the Month: 922 Bayland

July Yard of the Month goes to 922 Bayland!  Marcy and Scott Pryor have so much WOW!! going on in their yard. Woodland Heights residents for seven years, they have taken advantage of almost every inch of the front to plant beautiful vignettes, beds and gorgeous planters. Flowering sky vines are being trained up steel cables around the porch and a new arbor is going in at the front sidewalk. Full disclosure: that adorable puppy is mine who had to put up with me taking photos for a few minutes!

Tip O’ The Trowel to Marcy and Scott!  Looks fantastic!

- Allison Hartzell, Director of Beautification

Yard of the Month: 604 Omar

Yard of the Month - Tip of the trowel for June goes to 604 Omar. This yard has recently gone through a transformation adding zoysia grass, beautiful potted arrangements and bright new flower beds. Homeowners, Lisa, Matt and their precious baby girl, Eloise now have a gorgeous landscape to look at while they are enjoying their front porch visiting with neighbors or playing in the front yard! Looks fantastic guys!

- Allison Hartzell, Director of Beautification

Curbside Tree Project with Trees for Houston

The WHCA is pleased and excited to announce that we are bringing back the Curbside Tree Project for late April in partnership with Trees for Houston. Homeowners will be able to select a tree of their choice for their yards from a selection available in our webstore. The WHCA will coordinate tree ordering, delivery and planting! A menu of trees is forthcoming but we will have a selection such as Live Oak, Bald Cypress, Loblolly Pine, Pecan, Red Maple, Shumard Oak, Redbud, Water Oak, Cedar Elm and possibly more.

• Trees will be 15 gallon, 6-8' tall with approx. 1 1/2" caliper.

• Trees will be delivered by WHCA volunteers, and we will be organizing additional volunteers to assist with some of the tree planting.

• Pre-payment will be required.

• Tree purchasers will be responsible for watering and maintaining the tree(s). Donut rings which replenish naturally except in really dry weather will also be available for purchase.

• The total cost to the homeowner for the tree, donut ring and materials (soil, mulch, stakes, tree guard) will be approximately $100.00.

• If you know of anyone who wants to participate but cannot afford to do so, please let us know and the WHCA will work with them.

• Please consider making a donation to help cover tree grants for neighbors.

We'd like to get an understanding of the level of interest in the Curbside Tree Project, so if this sounds like something you would participate in, please check out the survey from our email campaign:

Curbside Tree Project

Trees benefit the neighborhood in so many ways from shade, bird and animal habitat, improving air quality, flood protection, improving the value of your home and more! Many trees in Woodland Heights were planted as curbside trees in the 2000s. I have 2 gorgeous live oaks and one huge magnolia in my own yard that were part of the earlier Curbside Projects.

- Allison Hartzell, Director of Beautification

Friends of Woodland Park Update

Friends of Woodland Park would like to thank everyone who helped to clean up our park in November and December.  We had over 100 people participate, including local Heights Girl Scout troops 122195, 122229, 122202, 122036, 122333, 122007, 122251, 122285, 122286, 125076 and 25001.   Troop 122286 had the largest group with a total of 26 participants and won a cupcake party from Friends of Woodland Park.  We were also grateful to have a group from the Friends of PJ Library come and do a family cleanup in January.  We welcome any groups who are interested in helping us keep the park clean and maintained.  If you have any additional photos, please send to photos@friendsofwoodlandpark.org so that we can recognize you and your team. 

Upcoming events include:

March 20, 2021:  Monthly Bird Survey - Join a representative from the local Audubon Society on a bird walk. Meet at the community center (212 Parkview) at 7:30am. Long pants and closed toe shoes are advisable; please bring binoculars if you have them. No experience required. 

March 25-28, 2021: Trash Bash -Trash Bash® is the largest, single-day waterway cleanup in Texas, and we are excited to include Little White Oak Bayou in Woodland Park. Trash Bash® 2021 has been reimagined, but we hope you will join us to "Clean It Like You Mean It!"®. The event will include educational videos, small personal cleanups, and more. Go to http://www.trashbash.org/2021-trash-bashreg.html to learn more and sign up!

We are also interested in hearing from our younger birders and would love to post any bird or wildlife photos taken by any park visitors 18 and under.  We are happy to help identify any plants or wildlife you see in the park, and also recommend the iNaturalist app. Please send pictures to photos@friendsofwoodlandpark.org with your name and any questions you have.        

Did you know that Moody Park and Woodland Park are connected by trail?  On February 1st, the FWP board hiked from Woodland Park to Moody Park along banks of Little White Oak Bayou (LOWB), and then back through Hollywood Cemetery. This hike took several hours at a leisurely pace, with time for discussing some of the landmarks and concerns about the park.  We also observed multitudes of birds, including hawks, cormorants, woodpeckers, egrets, herons, and kingfishers to name a few.  FWP continues to lobby for a maintained trail connection between Woodland Park and Moody Park.  Connectivity and clean-up between our public green spaces is key to preservation, community feel, and public access.  A map of our journey is posted now on our Facebook page.

 If you have not checked out our kiosk in the park lately, you will find a list of the most recent birds spotted at the park, as well as a little history of the park.  You can also find the most recent bird list on the ebird app at https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1995953

Looking to stay up to date on Woodland Park?  Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfWoodlandPark/  or visit our website: https://www.friendsofwoodlandpark.org/  

If you have concerns about the park, please raise them on the City of Houston 311 or you can contact social@friendsofwoodlandpark.org .  The community center is managed by Julia Soto of the Houston Parks Department, and you can contact her at julia.soto@houstontx.gov .

-Friends of Woodland Park Board

Yard of the Month: 605 Omar

What a month this is for yard of the month! While most of the neighborhood hovers in a monotony of various shades of brown, the Guyres at 605 Omar were able to have color survive through snowmegeddon! A couple of these photos are pre-Uri but the cheerful pansies along the front fence made it through. The Guyres will have the rest of the yard whipped back into shape quickly as you can find the entire family doing yard work most weekends. The color on the porch in those handsome chairs is the adorable Guyre family. They are long-term residents of Woodland Heights and have been active in the neighborhood, especially with the Learn Local program at Hogg and community service.

-Allison Hartzell, Director of Beautification

Yard of the Month: 501 Teetshorn

January Yard of the Month goes to 501 Teetshorn on the corner of Helen. The current homeowner purchased the property in 2017. A large southern magnolia anchors the front yard on the western edge. Seasonal beds line the front of the home and add a welcoming entrance to the home. Hog fencing surrounds the property dividing the front and side yard which has a cocktail pool plus more lush landscaping. Citrus and vegetable plants are mixed in the back area and along the driveway.

Tip of the trowel to this friendly neighbor and her two Irish Wolfhounds!

-Allison Hartzell, Director of Beautification