The yard of the month for June is located at 108 E. Dry where Senora Esther Patino has lived for approximately six years. Although the address is on Dry Street, the residence faces S. Harwood Street. The mobile home, or manufactured house, is tucked in behind several large blooming Pomegranate trees on Dry. Once you turn the corner, however, the hidden garden delights the eye. Next to the Pomegranate trees, under dappled sunlight from the Mimosa, is a shaded carport that her son built. The yard stretches from a raised rock bed at the entry to the home and then along the road with a meandering lawn. In addition to the covered carport with a tall Italian Cypress standing guard, her son built the raised rock bed that surrounds the mailbox. He also widened the sidewalk that hugs the skirt of the house.
In the bed surrounding the mailbox are red Gladiolus, Yellow blooming Sedum, Spearmint, Red Salvia, blue Bachelor’s Buttons and towering Sunflowers. Camouflaged by the colorful annuals and to the rear of the bed facing the house is a salsa garden. Mrs. Patino grows tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro. Several hanging baskets surround the patio cover with trailing Sedum and blooming annuals.
Pots march in line up the porch steps to the front door. Under the handrail are pots of trailing Succulents and Sedums, with another line of Pothos Ivy along the seating next to the covered patio area. There are pots of Angel Wing Begonias, Asparagus Fern, Dark Leaf Red Begonias, Red and Pink Geraniums. The sidewalk is lined with Red Salvia, Dark Leaf Red Cannas, pink Petunias, and rose bushes as it curves around under a large purple Rose of Sharon to the driveway and garage. Young Live Oaks stand in the center of the yard.
Mrs. Patino starts every morning with a walk in her garden greeting and talking to her plants. She enjoys sitting on the swing in the cool shade under the carport where she occasionally naps after separating plants and propagating cuttings. Many of her plants were shared starters from friends and family. The Garden Club hopes you go by to see this lovely yard as you remember “Keep your hands in your gloves and your gloves in the dirt.”