Mark your calendar as a must attend event: the Quail Valley Backyard Garden Tour and Plant Sale.
QVGC President Marilyn Ellis said, "After a highly successful initial tour that allowed individuals to experience some of the wonderful gardens in Quail Valley, we have an even bigger tour this year."
After screening 15 homes, the committee selected a variety of eight gardens and budgets for providing homeowners ideas on how to "Expand Your Space (through gardening)."
The tour committee, according to Chair Janice Scanlan, "was struck at the variety of ways gardens contributed to more living space and quality of life. Whether we were looking at an over-sized lot with a full outdoor kitchen, pool, gazebo, numerous patio seating areas interspersed with play area for kids; a compact cottage garden that, in spite of its size, is a Certified Wildlife Habitat"; or something "in between" how gardening expanded people's space was indeed inspiring."
Plant sale chair Nancy Lindsay is expanding this years plant sale to include bedding plants along with unusual plants nurtured by members, yard art and fun items for your garden. "With the ideas at the gardens, we wanted to make it easy for the attendee to have access to putting color and interest into their gardens. Having experienced and master gardeners on hand, we can often suggest or help in unexpected ways.
With an Elementary Student Poster Contest around gardening, enjoying the outdoors and caring for the earth, we have an outing that kids, parents and grandparents can all enjoy."
8 Gardens and 6 Locations.
Our ticket and reference guide will provide more information from the following gardeners on how to and where to find what you need to Expand Your Space through Gardening. Please click on images to enlarge.
Dream Garden and Over-sized Lot . . . 3102 Oak Leaf Court
Moving from another section of Quail Valley in 2002, Sondra and Mickey Winborne worked with their front garden initially. In 2008 they decided to replace an existing pool that was too close to the house and did not take advantage of their over-sized lot. Wanting to ensure they had a place for eight active grand kids (four who come every weekend), the Winbornes wanted something all ages could enjoy and could "morph" as grand kids interests changed. Now it's a true "dream garden," there is something for everyone.
Multiple seating areas, full outdoor kitchen, flag-stone wade-in pool, gazebo, both sun and shade gardens--including a grotto area behind the stunning pool, along with a basketball area and jungle gym for the kids. The Winbornes have priceless memories with their family and friends because of this garden. After all the construction, the neighbors were invited to a party to show appreciation for their patience. All the moods and nuances of this garden make it challenging to take in the myriad of ideas for enjoyment and priceless memories.
For the Birds, Patio Garden and More . . . 3902 Crystal Falls
Shirley and Al Renfrow are Missouri City natives, having graduated from Missouri City High School. Both are story tellers who love working together in the garden. Though they have a patio home, they wanted to be able to attract birds and wildlife to their garden, and have privacy--so they bought the lot next door for a vegetable and native tree garden. You're greeted by an arbor that leads to a village of bird houses, feeders, flowering plants, potted plants and a water garden.
Ornamental and live critters, especially the birds and squirrels provide much entertainment as well as a beautiful view from inside their home. Interesting potted arrangements grace another arbor with hummingbird feeders. The water garden provides a melody to sit, enjoy a drink and share time with friends and when their daughter visits from Anchorage or son from Houston.
Flower Gardener's Paradise . . . 2514 Glenn Lakes
Many people would simply love Arvada and Loren Simcoe's lake view with water birds lazily fishing through the day. For Arvada, an avid master gardener, it was just a backdrop to the marvelous garden and living areas she wished to create. Arvada visits plant sales and several nurseries constantly on the look out for something unusual. And expect to find it and learn various tips she's learned to keep color and variety thriving, even in Houston's harsh summers.
The Simcoe's have lived on this lot since 1978, but a 1984 fire required an entire re-build of the home. The garden has changed over the years as well, constantly reflecting new interests and plants. Part of the pleasure of gardening is the change and surprise, and Arvada loves talking about hers--her enthusiasm is boundless and as beautiful as the flowers and plants she so carefully nurtures. You'll come away wanting to remember all the names and plants that make this a flower gardener's paradise.
Less is More, Cottage Garden With a View . . . 2710 North Doral Drive
You'd never expect a cottage garden to be a Certified Wildlife Habitat, but the garden of Martha and Keith Woodward is indeed that and more. In fact her first butterfly she was documenting for certification metamorphosed the day of Hurricane Ike and was so named. And what a place to entertain. The Woodwards so love their garden, that Thanksgiving was held on the patio.
Entering through an inviting path to the entertainment areas offer some wonderful ideas for smaller spaces. Martha's stories of birds that nest behind wall plaques and ducks that find a variety of ways to rear their young in proximity to the lake and golf course view is fun . . . and she never knows what or who might "drop by." Which seems to be one of the joys of outdoor living--all the "friends" who come to visit.
Fun for Entertaining With Less Maintenance . . . 3014 Robinson Road
Linda and Floyd Emery are both active civically and socially and would rather play golf or entertain friends than work in the garden. You would never know it from their well kempt garden. The secret is simplicity, keeping beds and touches of color to a manageable level and not an inch of grass in the back garden. Interesting statuary and yard art provide a welcoming invitation.
To complement their pool they wanted to have sun and various sitting and sunning areas in a "conventional" backyard, surrounded by a fence. The results are dramatic. When they remodeled and updated their home for entertaining several years ago, the garden and pool became an extension of the home. It serves for overflow or can be the focal point of the party. A clever dining area is tucked off to one side of the pool to make living and relaxing in the garden a restful and peaceful respite from busy lives or fun with friends.
Texas Limestone and Hill Country Oasis . . . 2810 Hampton Drive
With a terrace and fountain just outside their living and dining area, Judy and Skip Belt's home brings the outside in and doubles their living space. Whether watching birds or swinging their grandbaby beside the fountain, the limestone walls surrounding the terrace fountain and parklike view of the golf course are open with no fences.
Their home is truly a "family affair." Having a lightning strike almost 4 years ago, the Belts re-designed their home to be more spacious with fewer interior walls and to continue to take advantage of the great view. They also replaced the brick veneer with stone. Skip and his sister worked together on the design, his son poured the foundation, and Skip did the general contracting and garden design including limestone walls just the right height to sit and rest. It is a labor of love the family enjoys, and the neighbors as well as you move next door to the Reber's garden.
Solace for Your Soul . . . 2806 Hampton Drive
Jonellen and Nelson Reber love their garden, but for Jonellen garden design along with beading are solace for her soul. Her tranquille, lovely water garden along with beds of unusual and "family and friends' plants" make the water, view and flowers all work together. The one thing Nelson insisted upon was "no fences." And in this case, no fences have made good neighbors.
You're greeted by a plaque that reflects this garden with its oriental influence of water, rock and stone. It says, "The kiss of the sun for pardon. The song of the birds for mirth. One is nearer God's heart in a garden than any where on earth."And you'll feel the warmth and caring that has gone into this beautiful design, which has a elegant simplicity as does Jonellen's beading. The Rebers enjoy being between the Belts and the Alternberns, who have continued the "don't fence me in" openness of the area.
Trees Swaying Like Ballet Dancers . . . 2802 Hampton Drive
Jo and Tom Altenbern have used magnificent trees to wonderful advantage. And the trees from their many garden views from their home sway like ballet dancers in the wind--especially during Hurricane Ike. The Altenberns first moved to Quail Valley in 70's on West Creek Club and bought their current "corner lot" and designed the one-of-a-kind home and garden. Both laugh and say that many of the trees were "designed by squirrels."
The Altenberns use color in spots and patches through out the year, but their primary emphasis are the beautiful trees, shrubs and ground covers. Tom stresses good tree care and annual pruning kept their trees in good stead even from the winds of Hurrican Ike. While Jo had started out wanting a giant flower garden, the reality of a career and family made that desire not the best choice for their lifestyle. The only fence with these three neighboring gardens is around the Altenbern's pool which offers another "side" of the golf course with a large area for entertaining friends and family.
A tour map of locations of gardens and plant sale location is shown below. To down load a printable copy, press here.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 18.
Tickets are $10.00 for the entire tour. Single gardens are $2 each. Children under 12 free.
Purchase tickets in advance by calling Janice Scanlan at 281 261-2320 or follow the signs the day of the tour. You can purchase tickets at the any tour location including the Plant Sale at Hampton and East Creek Club. There is no charge to attend the Plant Sale or Student Poster Contest at Hampton and East Creek Club.
The Plant Sale and Poster Contest is open 10-3. Music will be provided by Smack Guitars from noon to 3. Winners of the Poster Contest Announced at 1 PM.
