This couple was on the lookout for a “quaint nation home” and it seems like they have been knocked out of the park. His unassuming cottage in Higbee, right here in El Campo, is a picturesque show of nation home gardening.
David and Dianna Estraca have lived on this residence for 2 years and have developed a backyard worthy of the Yard of the Month award. Pat Holob and Brenda Ogdee of El Campo Backyard Membership selected this home because the winner for July.
“After we bought the decision that we had been chosen for yard of the month, we have been so excited,” mentioned Dianna.
Searching for to create that “farmhouse” backyard really feel, the couple put in a fence across the perimeter of the property after which added a white picket fence to the entrance that separates the driveway from the entrance backyard. A centerpiece of the picket fence is the arbor that helps the well-known Peggy Martin rose, a rose that survived submerged in seawater for greater than two weeks after flooding from Hurricane Katrina.
Including the fence in entrance of the home “gave us the area to arrange a flower mattress in entrance of the fence, a small grassy space, and white gravel for added parking,” Dianna mentioned. “Now, with your complete property fenced off, we have been in a position to arrange beds that border the property for the yard gardens.”
The flower beds include climbing roses, drift roses, knockout roses and David Austin roses. Some are outdated roses.
“For peak we added extra myrtles, a peach tree, a fig tree and a lime tree,” he mentioned. The duo additionally added a number of planters, a swing, and out of doors curtains, including a extremely cozy contact to the cabin’s design.
“We plan on including some planters on the aspect patio and a few hanging baskets on the entrance porch space,” he mentioned, “we’re additionally speaking about including a small out of doors kitchen.”
The important thing to the success of your backyard? A very good irrigation system, organically enriched soil, and natural fertilizer are the keys to a contented and profitable gardening expertise.
After putting in the flower beds and bigger crops with a bit of skilled assist, David and Dianna keep the backyard themselves. A lot of the exhausting work went into creating the attractive landscaping in order that they, their neighbors, and even some passers-by can benefit from the fruits of their labor.
The landscaped courtyard contains some particular plantings in reminiscence of Irene Estraca, David’s mom.
“This was my mother-in-law’s home, earlier than she handed away,” Dianna mentioned, “we wished to save lots of as many crops as attainable.” They included her crops within the new design, including myrtle, milkweed, Tradescantia zebrina (identified colloquially as ‘wandering jew’) and different roses to the brand new beds and plantings.
One of many favourite areas of the patio is the swing set, “as a result of from this space you may see and revel in all of the gardens within the entrance yard,” Dianna mentioned.
The couple plant seasonally to maintain the backyard colourful and plush. “In the summertime months there are zinnias, vinca, angelonia, verbena, impatiens, begonias, cosmos and pentas,” Dianna mentioned. Within the winter months they may plant delphinium, petunia, eustoma, carnation and caladium.
One other secret to their profitable cottage backyard type: The couple owns Earth Creations Landscaping and simply celebrated 20 years in enterprise. “It has been through the years that we have now gained information and expertise on this subject.”
They may proceed to backyard and panorama efficiently in the event that they follow what they know.
