Meet our July 2010 Westcreek Yard of the Month Winners… Michael, Kristi, Ava, and Aniello Zumpano.  The Zumpano Family has lived at 6113 Smith Oak for over two and a half years and they love living here.

Their beautifully landscaped yard is full of many drought tolerant native and adapted plants such as Plumbago, Purple Leaf Sage, Blackfoot Daisy, Yarrow, Lady Banksia Rose, Sedum, Esperanza (Yellow Bells), Passion Vine, Salvia Greggi, Brazilian Rock Rose, and a unique white Turks Cap.

As you approach their front walkway shaded by well established Crape Myrtles, you are greeted by a natural cedar trellis that is adorned with Confederate Jasmine and Star Jasmine vines.

When the Zumpanos are not working in their yard or balancing family life, they are both very busy running their business named, “Minds in Motion Experiential Learning” (www.mimel.net), where they use their 25 years of combined teaching experience to provide summer camps as well as mentoring and educational programs to children.

The Zumpanos were presented with a $50 Emerald Gardens gift certificate and a $50 Randalls gift certificate to recognize their efforts in keeping Westcreek looking great.  Stay tuned for next month’s winner.

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Meet Lance, Jessica and Rylan Parker (baby Jude, 5 months old is asleep inside).

They have lived in Westcreek for the past five years. They have done all the work on their yard themselves and were thrilled that they won Yard of The Month. They didn’t expect it because they said they haven’t had much time to work on their yard this year with Lance’s busy schedule as a Firefighter and having a new baby! However, we thought it was a true gem and they deserve every bit of acknowledgement for their contribution to making Westcreek the great neighborhood that it is!

They have mostly natives in their yard and a few beautiful flower beds lined with rocks and a lovely path of decomposed granite. The Agave and Cacti seen in the front flower beds were purchased for only $1 at a garage sale! The Parker’s are so happy with how they have flourished and grown! They also have two huge old Oak Trees in their front yard with branches stretching wide and graceful shading the entire yard. A couple cute vintage chairs and a wooden swing are inviting for family and neighbors! They have another Chinquapin Oak that’s growing nicely and a couple beautiful Crape Myrtles! I absolutely love the enormous rosemary bush as well! I asked if it was more than one plant, it was so big, but it was just the one. They said they just saw an old picture of it and realized how much it had grown!

Agave originally bought at garage sale for $1!

Lance said the design of their yard was a lot of “trial and error.” I think that’s very humble and modest, the yard is gorgeous! I’m hoping with my “trial and error” mine will end up looking like this one, too!

Beautiful, enormous rosemary bush and Crape Myrtle in full bloom!

Front right flower bed

The other half of the front left flower bed

Amazing Oak in front shades the entire yard. Cute accents chairs and swing make it very inviting for family and neighbors!

Paul and Tina Plummer and their children Samantha and Brodie, along with their sweet dog Bailey, have lived in Westcreek for 14 years.  The Plummers previously had a yard full of St. Augustine grass, which was stricken with virtually every disease and pest common to that type of grass.  They decided to replace their entire yard with Zoysia grass (lower water need a plus) and couldn’t be happier.  They recently spread an organic fertilizer named ”Revitalizer” from a local nursery all over their lawn and really see a big difference.

Along with naturally curving landscaped beds lined with rock, the yard is adorned with native plants such as Red Yucca and a butterfly- and hummingbird-attracting wildflower mix that includes Cosmos, Larkspur, and Indian Blanket.

The Plummers have also been steadfast supporters of neighborhood events, such as National Night Out over the years they’ve lived in the ‘hood.

The Westcreek Neighborhood Association Yard of the Month for April 2010 is awarded to Sue Stewart at 5302 Wolf Run.  Sue has lived in Westcreek about 10 years and is a professor at Texas State in San Marcos.

Sue loves gardening!  She has a 10-12 ft Bay leaf tree in her back yard!  (Chefs/cooks take note! She will give you Bay Leaves!) She shops the Wildflower Center and has created a peaceful space in her front yard that includes a park bench and Texas natives and a flagstone patio.  Drive by and see the charm that she has created!

Thanks to Jennifer Voss and Hannah Williams for their help in selecting the Yard of the Month. If you’d like to suggest a Westcreek yard for the WNA YOM contact Barb Huffman at bhuffman1@austin.rr.com.

The December 2009 winner for Yard of the Month goes to Barbara and Heather Huffman of 6304 Sanderson Ave.

Mary and Stephen Dean are the August 2009 Yard of the Month winners!

By Judy Jeffersion

The Yard of the Month winners for August are Mary and Stephen Dean who have lived at 6210 Sun Vista since August of 1980. Their home was one of the first 50 homes to be built in Westcreek. They have four grown children, three daughters and one son. All four of the children were raised in this house and attended local schools. They
have seen many changes to the neighbrohood in the past 29 years.

Many of their original neighbors and friends have long since moved, but new families have replaced them. Mary and Stephen told me how
much they enjoy our neighborhood and feel comfortable and safe here.

They have added on to the house, made several improvements and many upgrades over the years. Their next project will be remodeling the kitchen and dining area. Mary was so delighted to have her yard chosen, and couldn’t wait to call the children with the good news.

The Dean’s received a $25 gift certificate from Randalls and a $50 gift certificate from Emerald Garden. Randalls and Emerald Garden continue to be generous supporters of our YOM effort here in Westcreek. Be sure to support them in return.

Linda and Nate Kemp are the July 2009 Yard of the Month winners!

The Yard of the Month winners for July are Linda and Nate Kemp at 6108 Sun Vista Drive.

Linda and Nate (and their big greyhound Zuma) have lived in Westcreek since 2003 and have steadily been transforming their yard to include a less thirsty lawn and more colorful summer perennials, young trees
and butterfly-friendly blooms.

The Kemp’s received a $25 gift card from Randalls and a $50 gift card from Emerald Garden.

Story by Judy Jefferson

Becky and Erik Swansiger, with their two sons Holden and Finn, are the June 2009 Westcreek Yard of the Month winners!

The Yard of the Month winners for June are Becky and Erik Swansiger. They live at 6102 Morning Dew with their two sons, Holden age 6 who loves art, maps and swimming, his younger brother, Finn age 2.5 who loves to smile and also loves to swim. This particular address on Morning Dew is where Barton, the 50 pound Tortoise, made his much publicized escape a few years back. Barton had made it all the way to Brush Country before he was captured!

The Swansiger’s have enjoyed living in Westcreek with all the trees and friendly neighbors for the past 10 years. It was one of their neighbors who brought their yard to the attention of the Enhancement Committee. The Buda water feature in front of their porch makes the yard seem very Zen.

Becky and Erik received a $25 gift card from Randalls and a $50 gift card from Emerald Garden. Thanks go to both Randalls and Emerald Garden for continually supporting Westcreek’s Yard of the Month program.

Story by Judy Jefferson

Lisa and Joe Payne, with their daughter Elizabeth ( 4 1/2 years old) are the Westcreek May Yard of the Month winners!

The Yard of the Month winners for May are Lisa and Joe Payne at 4801 Summerset Trail. They have enjoyed living in Westcreek for the past three years. Before deciding on types of plants, design of the pathways around the garden and overall structure, the Payne’s first turned for ideas from a professional gardener. They wanted year ’round interests in their garden — not just in the spring and summer — and also wanted drought-tolerant plants, which was challenging because most of their yard has shaded areas.

Lisa and Joe both enjoy gardening and Joe built the trellis in their own yard with help from his next-door neighbor. He’s also planted vegetables in the Sunshine Community Garden near his work. Lisa told me their garden is still “a work in progress”.

Lisa and Joe were presented with a $25 gift card from Randalls and a $50 gift card from Emerald Garden. Be sure to support Randalls and Emerald Garden in return for their generosity to Westcreek!