Published: July 31, 2008 09:46 am      

Yards of the Month for August

From Staff Reports



Corsicana City Council members Tom Wilson, Ruby Williams, Stephen Andrews and Randy Dill have announced their selections for August Yard of the Month. They are supported by this endeavor by Corsicana Cleanup Committee and Better Gardens Club.

Precinct 1 — Molly and Bobby Sparks live at 509 Love Circle and have been selected as Yard of the Month in Precinct 1 by Tom Wilson.

The Sparks bought their beautiful home 31 years ago from Dr. Shapiro. They raised their famous son Bobby here and a daughter, Bobbie Lynett, visits from Dallas where her husband, Dr. J.R. Williams, practices medicine. Grandchildren Tré, Raya and Jordan are always welcome guests.

The gardens and house flow seamlessly together. “I always select the plants,” Molly said. “But she uses my favorite color, burgundy,” Bobby added.

Burgundy caladiums draw the eye to the foundation plantings and the color-matching front door. The shrubs, all perfectly groomed, offer a variety of texture. Lorapetalum hedges, Forest Pansy redbuds and Japanese maples repeat the color theme throughout the front and back gardens.

Bobby planted pin and red oaks all over the property and they have grown into magnificent specimens. “There used to be a plum tree over there when Bobby was small, but he kept trying to feed the plums to the neighbor’s dog. That wasn’t such a good idea, so I planted an oak tree,” Bobby said.

Decorated in the Sparks’ favorite burgundy, a glass-walled room allows the gardens to be an extension of their living space. Seating is provided among many ferns on the patio, and is lit by a solar Tiffany style lamp. A large-tiered fountain provides the focal point in the grassy area.

The Sparks have created a garden that reflects their tasteful style and gracious spirit.

Precinct 2 — Ruby Williams has selected the home of Ray and Cordelia Meadows at 1625 E. Ninth Ave. as the honoree in Precinct 2.

Ray’s family has lived in this house for generations. His grandparents, Willy and Rosetta Meadows, raised their family in the house, and his mother, Loretta Meadows, raised Ray and his siblings there. Cordelia and Ray are now the proud owners of this immaculate house and beautiful landscape.

Cordelia works and is also a full-time student at Navarro College. Attending schools for the last 19 years, she has accumulated a number of certifications in everything from food service management to culinary school. “I am a professional student. I never want to stop learning and growing,” she said.

The gardens have two water features surrounded by many art pieces painted by Cordelia. Her masterful placement allows every plant to be the most important thing in the garden. Even the trunk of a fallen tree has been sanded, painted, and covered with an arbor that holds cardinal climber vines. It adds visual interest to a large bed of begonias, gladiolas, and mandevillas. Two perfectly-pruned cedars welcome visitors to the gardens. Beautiful alamandas, castor plant, Diana palms, morning glory bush and a large tree rose are only a few of the elements that comprise this inspired space.

Ray, a quiet man, said, “I wanted all this to look tropical for Cordelia. She’s from California and is used to seeing all these plants.” Ray’s devotion to Cordelia has provided the community with a picture-perfect garden.

Precinct 3 — Stephen Andrews has selected the Yard of the Month in Precinct 3. Built around 1940, the light yellow house with white trim at 1524 W. Fifth Ave. is going through a major revival.

Yolanda and Noé Cano have worked diligently at cleaning, painting and trimming, to bring their home alive again. This has all happened in the one year that they have been owners.

At the curbside, sweetgum trees have been shaped and trimmed. A newly-poured concrete sidewalk extends across the entire front of the lot. The walk also extends to the front entrance, which features new steps. Edging each side of the sidewalk are holly shrubs and red brick with the “Whiteselle Corsicana” imprint. A brick walk across the lawn leads to the new driveway. There is a park bench under a large crepe myrtle with birdhouses hanging from its branches. The wooden floor of the front porch has been sanded and painted to complement the leaded glass front door. On the porch are potted plants and dark gray wicker chairs that match the shutters on the windows. A Texas star hangs on the front wall. On the west side of the porch, a large bay window extends, providing shade from the summer sun.

A privacy fence and back porch have been added. A trampoline is in the fenced area for the children of the couple — two boys and a baby girl.

This house is being restored to its original use: a home for a growing family.

Precinct 4 — Randy Dill selected the home of Linda and Joe Allen at 3841 W. Park Row in Precinct 4.

Joe is a former coach. He and Linda moved to Corsicana in 2001 and lived in her father’s house. When her father decided to return to Corsicana, they were a given an acre of pasture on the family property. They built and moved into their home in 2002.

The Allens planted St. Augustine grass, oak and pecan trees, and 35 crepe myrtles of various colors. Linda’s grandfather planted the large elm, pin oak, and post oak trees. Their grandchildren enjoy fishing in a pond they stock with bass.

A vegetable garden filled with okra and tomatoes is growing between the houses. Joe mows six acres of grass around the two properties.

Boxwood is planted around the back patio. To add color, Linda has pots full of begonias, petunias, and geraniums.

An amaryllis bed is behind and along the rear side of the house, as well as a rose garden, many Black-eyed Susans, mint, chrysanthemums, and other plants that were given to them by friends.

The front of the house is planted with boxwood, daylilies, azaleas, and roses. Potted fountain grass frames the entrance.

There are many young trees in the front yard and among them is a very young magnolia that Joe said was “dead” when he found it. He has nursed it back to health and one day just might be the jewel of the front lawn.