BY DEIRDRE MURPHY
Garden Club of the Lakes
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS— The Garden Club of the Lakes awarded the Yard of the Month for October 2022 to Garrett and Alex Gispanski.
Gail Klein, the couple’s neighbor, and fellow Garden Club member nominated the Gispanskis for this award.
Alex gave me a tour of the property with her sweet little girl, Arlo. This home on Lake Geneva was her grandmother’s. They moved in about three years ago and began making a few changes. After repainting the house’s color and adding their touches, they decided to tackle the yard, which was mostly grass. The back of the home remains grass down to the lake, but they agreed that low maintenance in the front of the property was the direction they wanted to go.
Garrett and Alex removed the original boxwoods and put in plants that didn’t require heavy maintenance, such as succulents, pineapples, agave, aloe, cactus and desert rose fig. On the side yard, they put in a cute picket fence with an arched gate, pebble stone and beautiful slate-like pavers.
Ginger and bird of paradise plants now occupy the space. There is a water fountain in the center of the side yard, and young olive trees surround the fountain.
Jasmine has started climbing the fence, which will add fragrance. The front and side yard has a very zeroscape vibe and is a true nod to the young couple that now has clearly put their stamp on the garden. Well done!
If you would like to nominate a yard for “Yard of the Month” or are interested in joining the Garden Club of the Lakes, please call or text Deirdre Murphy at 352-281-3026. The Garden Club meets on the second Thursday of the month at 10 AM, September through May, at Faith Presbyterian Church, 2738 State Road 21, Keystone Heights.
