Now Accepting 2023 "Yard of the Year" Nominations
Download the Yard of the Year nomination form here or fill out the form below by June 30. Thank you!
Congratulations to the 2022 "Yard of the Year" Winner, Dewayne Thomas!
The Villa Hills Garden Club has been sponsoring the Yard of the Year award for 24 years. During this time, we have had the opportunity to visit many spectacular gardens. This year was no exception.
Our winner of the 2022 Yard of the Year is Dewayne Thomas. Dewayne moved into the area 18 years ago where he purchased his home at 2509 Buttermilk Pike. He found that he had inherited not lush landscape but a yard overgrown with weeds and debris left to settle over the years. It was a daunting task, but he felt that he definitely could “do better” and set his mind to that task!
He decided that he needed some professional advice on how to begin. Dewayne began attending classes at the Boone County Extension Office on landscape design, gardening principals and choosing the proper plant material for his location. The principal that made the most impression was to “start from the outside and work your way in” to create your design. After purchasing perennials from the Garden Club’s plant sale, he was energized to begin the work on his vision.
Once the area was cleared, amended and tilled, Dewayne was ready to start developing a system of meandering pathways to slowly guide you through the ever-evolving garden settings. The purpose was to create garden areas where there would be continuous interest with blooms, textures and color throughout the seasons.
The purpose of the journey along the pathway was to “give your eye something to follow”. You might find a planting of sunny, shasta daisies and then be led to the other side to find stunning hydrangeas, variegated lirope and ferns. Each pathway will bring you to either a sun-drenched area filled with colorful zinnias, black-eyed susans, coneflowers. or possibly the cool, shaded location where you might find a bench nestled among the lush ferns, hosta and lily of the valley. If you want to experience a tropical setting, Dewayne has an amazing grove of banana trees planted alongside purple perilla, and deep red cannas, creating burst of color.
As you stroll through the walkways you are greeted with a myriad of carefully placed yard art that Dewayne has recycled/repurposed to enhance his gardens. Each turn you make a surprise awaits from a lovely lantern nestled above the daisies, to colorful watering cans which adorn the natural fence-line. Blue bottle trees accent the florescent blue hydrangea and a sunny-yellow windmill gently turns above the zebra grasses. His favorite creation has been the old sink mounted to a cart. It is attached to the outside faucet and doubles as a way to rinse your hands at the same time collecting water beneath to nourish the surrounding plants.
As the perennials begin to grow out of their boundaries, Dewayne finds this an opportunity to share with others. He will divide the plants, put them in bags, place them on his driveway with a sign “Free to a Good Home”. Within no time they are eagerly snatched up and will become an addition to someone else’s garden. He believes in the idea that the “sweat equity” is invaluable and the reward comes from sharing what you have grown and nurtured.
Dewayne is always thinking of ways to improve his landscapes. He walks along the paths each day, take notes and make plans accordingly. It is a work in progress and a labor of love, as all gardeners know.
Dewayne finds tranquility and peace of mind sitting in his swing, enjoying the wildlife attracted by the flowers and birdbaths, listening to a little “rock & roll” and sipping on a pepsi till dark. Time to return along the pathway and life is good!!!
Our winner of the 2022 Yard of the Year is Dewayne Thomas. Dewayne moved into the area 18 years ago where he purchased his home at 2509 Buttermilk Pike. He found that he had inherited not lush landscape but a yard overgrown with weeds and debris left to settle over the years. It was a daunting task, but he felt that he definitely could “do better” and set his mind to that task!
He decided that he needed some professional advice on how to begin. Dewayne began attending classes at the Boone County Extension Office on landscape design, gardening principals and choosing the proper plant material for his location. The principal that made the most impression was to “start from the outside and work your way in” to create your design. After purchasing perennials from the Garden Club’s plant sale, he was energized to begin the work on his vision.
Once the area was cleared, amended and tilled, Dewayne was ready to start developing a system of meandering pathways to slowly guide you through the ever-evolving garden settings. The purpose was to create garden areas where there would be continuous interest with blooms, textures and color throughout the seasons.
The purpose of the journey along the pathway was to “give your eye something to follow”. You might find a planting of sunny, shasta daisies and then be led to the other side to find stunning hydrangeas, variegated lirope and ferns. Each pathway will bring you to either a sun-drenched area filled with colorful zinnias, black-eyed susans, coneflowers. or possibly the cool, shaded location where you might find a bench nestled among the lush ferns, hosta and lily of the valley. If you want to experience a tropical setting, Dewayne has an amazing grove of banana trees planted alongside purple perilla, and deep red cannas, creating burst of color.
As you stroll through the walkways you are greeted with a myriad of carefully placed yard art that Dewayne has recycled/repurposed to enhance his gardens. Each turn you make a surprise awaits from a lovely lantern nestled above the daisies, to colorful watering cans which adorn the natural fence-line. Blue bottle trees accent the florescent blue hydrangea and a sunny-yellow windmill gently turns above the zebra grasses. His favorite creation has been the old sink mounted to a cart. It is attached to the outside faucet and doubles as a way to rinse your hands at the same time collecting water beneath to nourish the surrounding plants.
As the perennials begin to grow out of their boundaries, Dewayne finds this an opportunity to share with others. He will divide the plants, put them in bags, place them on his driveway with a sign “Free to a Good Home”. Within no time they are eagerly snatched up and will become an addition to someone else’s garden. He believes in the idea that the “sweat equity” is invaluable and the reward comes from sharing what you have grown and nurtured.
Dewayne is always thinking of ways to improve his landscapes. He walks along the paths each day, take notes and make plans accordingly. It is a work in progress and a labor of love, as all gardeners know.
Dewayne finds tranquility and peace of mind sitting in his swing, enjoying the wildlife attracted by the flowers and birdbaths, listening to a little “rock & roll” and sipping on a pepsi till dark. Time to return along the pathway and life is good!!!
