Visions of sugar plums danced in everyone’s heads this holiday season in our Cherry Creek neighborhood. So many people did an outstanding job on their holiday decorations! Many of the houses glimmered and twinkled with beautiful lights and fanciful glowing creatures. Upon entering our neighborhood, one would see a winter wonderland where giant toy soldiers stood guard at a sparkling house with brightly-colored snowflakes. I almost felt the frosty snow crunching under my feet and heard the jingle of sleigh bells while strolling through the neighborhood on a winter’s night. One homeowner’s lawn was overrun by mischievous longhorns and a cowboy Santa wishing us a “Merry Tex-mas”. The creative, Texas-style decorations and hand-painted bovines were amazing! Another yard was aglow with gigantic lollypops, candy canes, glittery gifts and shining polar bears. Many beautifully-decorated yards received votes to win the 2011 Cherry Creek Winter Holiday Decoration Contest, but here are the three houses that received the most votes. First place in the Holiday Decoration Contest goes to 9309 Silk Oak Cove. Second place goes to 3217 Silk Oak Drive, and third place goes to 9301 Silk Oak Cove. Thanks to all who participated in the contest and helped to make Cherry Creek a “holly jolly” neighborhood this holiday season!
9401 Tea Rose Trail
If Edward Scissorhands had a penchant for gumdrops, his yard might very well look like that of Jody and Jack Jennings of 9401 Tea Rose Trail, winners of September’s Yard of the Month!
We should all be grateful of the effort Jody and Jack put into their yard, because it is the first yard prominently on display to all who enter the neighborhood. In fact, their home was the builder’s model home for precisely that reason. Their yard positively influences people who are looking to buy a new home in our neighborhood; therefore it helps to increase our property values.
Since purchasing the home 17 years ago, Jody and Jack have maintained the bushes and trees they inherited from the original landscaping, and have also included some additions such as colorful crape myrtles. It is clear from talking to the Jennings that they gave much thought to each new item placed in the yard, paying particular attention to ease of maintenance, water needs, and suitability to this area. But don’t think that ease of maintenance is really on top of their list because they shape each and every bush almost monthly using electric trimmers, which takes a lot of time. We tried to convince them to try some fun animal topiary shapes since they already have the precise sculpting skills of Edward Scissorhands—maybe we will see a bear or rabbit-shaped hedge in the future?
The Jennings diligently maintain their yard and have used Dillo Dirt, an environmentally friendly compost made by the City of Austin to fertilize their landscape. Even though it is not as prominently on display, the Jennings work just as hard on their beautiful back yard bordered by crape myrtles with white, light pink and fuchsia blossoms.
Besides bragging rights, Jody and Jack are also recipients of a new perk (or maybe we should call it a “perc”) to winning the YOM award, a $20.00 gift card, generously donated by Steve Baer of the Texenza Coffee shop nearby. A special thanks goes to Texenza, a locally owned cafe near the Randalls that is only a 6 minute walk on the trail at the end of Tea Rose Trail– check it out!