The Fannie Marchman Garden Club has selected the home of Ronny and Cathy Smith as its October Yard of the Month. The Smiths moved to Mineola from the Metroplex three years ago and live on a large corner lot at 278 CR 2321 in the Greystone addition.
When they arrived, the yard had sparse landscaping. Ronny planted 28 pallets of Bermuda sod. The couple found that the sandy soil required more frequent watering, and a well helps with that. Weeds in the lawn are pulled by hand. The flower beds include drift roses, pink Turk's cap, Texas star hibiscus, rock rose and yellow rose of Texas.
The Smiths moved a tulip tree that had been planted too close to the house to the middle of the front yard. In the backyard, Cathy's potted plants and flower beds sit near a well house Ronny built, and the couple planted a white oak and transplanted two mulberry trees. A Texas-shaped cactus and succulent bed in the side yard was Cathy's idea, and Ronny drew the plans. Two eagles carved from tree stumps on the property are surrounded by lantana. Cathy is a quilter and Ronny is a craftsman.