BY BARBARA ANDERSON AND GINNY GEIGER
Garden Club of the Lakes
Every yard has its own personality, reflecting the uniqueness of its owners. Greg and Teresa Locke have added much personality to their yard in just the two years they have lived at 4162 Southeast First Avenue.
Greg was quick to tell us that Teresa is the one behind their “theme.” He digs holes and cuts the grass, and he also moves statues that are too heavy for Teresa.
Their theme is “statues with meaning,” and it is a fun theme. Some of the statues were actually given names. First, there are two little boys, Justin and Heath, Teresa’s two sons.
Because Teresa loves horses, she owned several over the years. You got it. They have two horse statues in their yard: Kelly and Lady, the names of her two favorite ones.
Then there is the rose garden, which we renamed “The Kissing Garden.” Can you guess the name of the kissing couple? Oh, you are so clever! Yes, Greg and Teresa.
Of course, no yard should be without at least one guardian angel. Over the last several years, one of Teresa’s aunts gave her two angel statues, which were placed near their front door. The angels have no names because no one names angels except God (or the writer of the TV show Touched by an Angel).
Saving the most special for last, there is Roxie, their Red Nose Pit, who was their best friend for many years. When she died, they bought the statue to remember her. The very neatest thing is that the statue is wearing Roxie’s original collar. How special is that?
The Lockes moved here from Jacksonville, where Teresa had lived since she was three. Once they retired, they wanted to move to our much quieter, smaller town near family. When they moved in, there were no plants or flowers in the yard except for some big, beautiful camellias that were now loaded with buds. It did not take long for Teresa to get to work. She and Greg planted hydrangeas, hibiscus, a Norfolk pine they dug up from their Jacksonville home, bougainvillea, and roses. It is a most warm and welcoming yard.
To be able to sit and enjoy their hard work and the resulting fun and beauty, they placed Teresa’s 24-year-old swing in the yard under a very big, old oak tree. When asked what they did not like about their yard, Greg said without hesitation, “the oak.” The limbs, leaves, and acorns are a constant source of work- and irritation when the acorns hit their metal roof. But that oak and the swing make their “happy place,” so Greg is willing to do the work it requires.
Since Greg enjoys playing golf, he is particularly glad they live on the golf course—even though it does require him to pick up golf balls (more work!). When we asked what they liked the most, Greg again was quick to say, “Our neighbors and the whole neighborhood.” What a very special answer, one we had not heard before. Wouldn’t it be a more peaceful world if we all could say the same?
If you want to learn more about the Garden Club of The Lakes or nominate yourself or someone in the community for Yard of the Month, please call Pat Lorenzo at 904-728-9460.
