STORY AND PHOTOS BY GINNY GEIGER AND BARBARA ANDERSON
Garden Club of the Lakes
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS—Several months ago, when we found Dan and Earlene Alvarez’s yard to showcase one month during the year, we were so excited. Little did we know when we were riding around trying to find a beautiful yard with nice Christmas decorations that theirs would be for this month’s Yard of The Month.
Many people had not yet decorated, so we were afraid we would not have a Christmassy yard to recognize.
Dan and Earlene have been living at 6862 Bedford Lake Road for the 60 years they have been married, and Dan since he was 11. Dan’s parents built the house in 1950, which the family enjoyed as a “getaway from the busy Jacksonville life” until they moved in permanently in 2010.
Their one-word description of the original yard was “desolate.” They (Earlene) immediately began to develop the property into an immaculately kept, beautiful place. Dan said that the yard is and has always been Earlene’s. He laughingly claimed he did nothing in it, but the more we talked, the more it came out that he really did help Earlene with raking, hauling plants around the yard, and other manual labor.
For Earlene, working in the yard is her stress reliever and what she absolutely loves to do, hours on end. That she truly loves everything she does shows brightly by the glow on her face. As far as Dan is concerned, he has the perfect situation because he can sit on one of their lovely porches reading and knowing at any time exactly where he can find his sweetheart.
Most of Earlene’s plants were given to her by her very dear friend Carla. Carla had a way with plants and could propagate just about anything. She wanted to make sure that Earlene had all the plants she had, and she had many. The plants Earlene is especially fond of are her bromeliads.
There are six separate small flower gardens developed all around the yard. One of the larger ones has more types of bromeliads than we ever knew even existed. Other plants that are special to Earlene include a curly leaf cactus (quite unique), a variety of crown of thorns (she even has one without thorns), many different colors of geraniums, and a mini pomegranate.
Then there is the butterfly vine. Few people have this unique plant, but Carla ensured that Earlene had one. This plant produces yellow flowers, which turn green and take on the shape of a butterfly. When it turns brown, you can see its seeds in the middle of its “wings.”
Earlene and Carla were very dear friends. In 2015, Carla died unexpectedly during heart surgery. Because almost everything in her yard reminded Earlene of Carla, she could not go into her yard for three months. The first day she struggled to be in her yard and look around, a yellow butterfly landed on her shoulder. Remember the yellow butterfly vine? Earlene said yellow butterflies don’t generally land – especially on someone’s shoulder. At that moment, she had such peace and could continue doing what she loves.
Have you ever heard of the butterbean plant? Probably not, because that is just Earlene’s name for it. First, little flowers appear like tiny orchids, then develop into seed pods resembling butterbeans.
Now, remember Dan’s being so clear that all of this beauty, design, labor, and love for beauty and plants were only Earlene’s. As we were leaving, we turned towards Dan and saw something red in his hands as he walked away. According to Earlene, Dan has a Don Juan rose that he has taken great care of and given love for quite some time. So, Dan, you have a hidden side.
As far as their Christmas decorations, they were as meticulously placed as the many plants. Much of the display made their belief in the reason for the season quite clear. There are so many details in everything that we could not find any way to tell you about this place. We encourage you to drive by and stay a while to enjoy everything as much as we did. As you are looking, remember that the lady inside the house and does most of the work is 85. We all should hope to be healthy and active.
If you want to learn more about the Garden Club of The Lakes or nominate yourself or anyone in the community for Yard of the Month, please contact Pat Lorenzo at (904)728-9460.
