Villa Hills Yard of the Year 2026
by Sue Frisbee and Debbie Hegyi
Each summer, the Villa Hills Garden Club looks forward to its annual Yard of the Year contest. Friends, neighbors, and family members are encouraged to nominate gardens they admire. Club members then enjoy the opportunity to tour these beautiful yards. Each one is a reflection of the homeowner’s unique vision and creativity. This requires countless hours of dedicated hard work and maintenance.
It is truly difficult choosing just one winner. We are delighted to recognize all this year's nominees and thank them for their contribution to making Villa Hills beautiful.
The nominees this year were:
Pat & Carrie Harms 1113 Carpenters Trace
Don & Sharon Thelen 2665 River Birch
George & Terri Schmidt 1040 Arden Drive
Congratulations to Terri and George Schmidt, the proud winners of the 2026 Yard of the Year!
Terri and George are long-time VH residents who moved into their current home in 2019. When they moved in, Terri and George’s first task was to try to tame the wilderness encroaching up from the river almost to their back door. With ivy and honeysuckle having taken over everything, their goal was to transform the space into a colorful and inviting environment. This meant the removal of all invasive plants and starting with a clean slate. Introducing perennials that would brighten the spaces and creating a peaceful environment that would blend naturally with the beauty of their river view.
The side entrance received a complete overhaul! A natural stone path was added, flanked by graceful pyramidal arborvitae and blacken brown magnolias which add shade for a lush hosta garden. As you walk down this path, you sense something special is about to unfold.
From this vantage point, you can see the fruits of their labor, as the once steep and overgrown hillside has been transformed into a sanctuary for their family and a habitat for butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators. The patio is flanked with two Italian pots brimming with yellow & red million bells and trailing lime green potato vines which accent the colorful pots and feed the visitors. The Schmidt’s have carefully chosen flowers, shrubs and landscaping elements to provide continuous blooms throughout the seasons. The steep hillside required some engineering to shore up areas and give the slope a softer look. Retaining walls were added and planters to be home for cheerful black-eyed Susans and purple cone flowers. Large beds grace the hillsides now bursting with tall shasta daisies, coreopsis and edged with striking liriope. This has become the peaceful retreat they worked so hard to achieve.
The garden continues along the opposite side of the house as you stroll along matching stacked stone planters. Each adding to the beauty of the pathway with the soft colors of lace-cap hydrangeas, spirea, and delicate tall spider flowers. There is a contrast of textures with variegated hosta and pops of red and yellow annuals filling the ornamental pots along the way. Sweet bay magnolias create a privacy fence to help enclose the area.
Terri shared that over the years they have tried to add new plantings, garden beds and landscape features, always looking for ways to enhance the natural beauty of the property they fell in love with. We think that the Schmidts have certainly accomplished their goals to transform their yard into a beautiful, peaceful and colorful oasis. Congratulations again to Terri and George.
Do you or someone you know have an amazing garden! Nominate them for next year’s Yard of the Year!
Nominations begin June 1st 2027. Watch our website or FB page for information.
It is truly difficult choosing just one winner. We are delighted to recognize all this year's nominees and thank them for their contribution to making Villa Hills beautiful.
The nominees this year were:
Pat & Carrie Harms 1113 Carpenters Trace
Don & Sharon Thelen 2665 River Birch
George & Terri Schmidt 1040 Arden Drive
Congratulations to Terri and George Schmidt, the proud winners of the 2026 Yard of the Year!
Terri and George are long-time VH residents who moved into their current home in 2019. When they moved in, Terri and George’s first task was to try to tame the wilderness encroaching up from the river almost to their back door. With ivy and honeysuckle having taken over everything, their goal was to transform the space into a colorful and inviting environment. This meant the removal of all invasive plants and starting with a clean slate. Introducing perennials that would brighten the spaces and creating a peaceful environment that would blend naturally with the beauty of their river view.
The side entrance received a complete overhaul! A natural stone path was added, flanked by graceful pyramidal arborvitae and blacken brown magnolias which add shade for a lush hosta garden. As you walk down this path, you sense something special is about to unfold.
From this vantage point, you can see the fruits of their labor, as the once steep and overgrown hillside has been transformed into a sanctuary for their family and a habitat for butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators. The patio is flanked with two Italian pots brimming with yellow & red million bells and trailing lime green potato vines which accent the colorful pots and feed the visitors. The Schmidt’s have carefully chosen flowers, shrubs and landscaping elements to provide continuous blooms throughout the seasons. The steep hillside required some engineering to shore up areas and give the slope a softer look. Retaining walls were added and planters to be home for cheerful black-eyed Susans and purple cone flowers. Large beds grace the hillsides now bursting with tall shasta daisies, coreopsis and edged with striking liriope. This has become the peaceful retreat they worked so hard to achieve.
The garden continues along the opposite side of the house as you stroll along matching stacked stone planters. Each adding to the beauty of the pathway with the soft colors of lace-cap hydrangeas, spirea, and delicate tall spider flowers. There is a contrast of textures with variegated hosta and pops of red and yellow annuals filling the ornamental pots along the way. Sweet bay magnolias create a privacy fence to help enclose the area.
Terri shared that over the years they have tried to add new plantings, garden beds and landscape features, always looking for ways to enhance the natural beauty of the property they fell in love with. We think that the Schmidts have certainly accomplished their goals to transform their yard into a beautiful, peaceful and colorful oasis. Congratulations again to Terri and George.
Do you or someone you know have an amazing garden! Nominate them for next year’s Yard of the Year!
Nominations begin June 1st 2027. Watch our website or FB page for information.
