The Country Hills Garden Club is thrilled to present the Benjamin family at 3507 Spring Lake Terrace with the June Beauty Spot.  Longtime residents of CCH, this recognition is a first-time achievement for Anand and Jamuna.

Upon approaching the Benjamin’s home, one cannot help but be captivated by the transformation that has taken place. Gone are the original shrubs that once lined the front, replaced now by a stunning array of perennials and shrubs that offer both texture and year-round visual interest. The front slope of the yard showcases a lush green lawn, inviting visitors to explore the meticulously manicured landscape that gracefully wraps around the sides of the house.

As one draws nearer to the front door, an appealing arrangement of Japanese aucuba, hostas, hellebores, and pink astilbe illuminate the shady bed. The variegated green foliage of these plants beautifully complements one another while providing a striking contrast against the backdrop of the red brick house.

In the left front corner of the landscape, a trio of hostas takes center stage, their light purple flowers just beginning to bloom. To further enhance the beauty of the front, a delightful dwarf blue spruce stands proudly alongside multiple Japanese andromeda bushes, ensuring a touch of evergreen interest throughout the seasons. To add a splash of vibrant color, rose bushes are interspersed throughout the landscape, their bold red blossoms punctuating the scene along with coreopsis and dark purple coral bells.  The front bed culminates with a solitary Wolf Eyes Kousa dogwood tree, its eye-catching wavy gray-green leaves accented with ivory margins adding a touch of elegance to the overall composition.

Wrapping around the right side of the house, the landscape bed showcases a continuation of the red rose theme sprinkled with bright green sedum and white boulders that seamlessly merge with a still blooming rhododendron and hydrangeas patiently biding their time, promising a display in the months ahead.

Through thoughtful plant selection and planning, the Benjamin’s have created a landscape that harmoniously blends colors, textures, and seasonal interest. The Country Hills Garden Club proudly recognizes the Benjamin family for their outstanding efforts in transforming their home into a breathtaking beauty spot, deserving of this month’s recognition.

Kirsten Youngren

Country Club Garden Club

MAY BEAUTY SPOT 2023

Spring has sprung in the CCH, and with it, the return of blooming landscapes and the County Hills Garden Club Beauty Spot.  The vivacious colors of our neighborhood yards stand out against the rich green backdrop enhanced by recent rains, creating a feast for the eyes.  With so many colorful homes to choose from, it is always difficult to feature just one. 

We are delighted to award the May 2023 Beauty Spot of the Month to the Osborne family home at 3423 Andover Drive.  This first-time honor is well-deserved, as their home showcases the stunning vibrancy of azaleas that are so prominently displayed in our community at this time of year.

As you approach the home, you are greeted with symmetrically placed crimson barberry, crape myrtles, and azaleas in shades of pink and red. These shrubs and trees are accented by an assortment of hostas, variegated and green, Autumn Joy sedum, coral bells, and ornamental grasses, creating a lush landscape flanking the driveway to welcome you home.

The front of the house is adorned with a row of dense azaleas, bordered on both sides by panicle hydrangeas. A mature Japanese Aucuba anchors the front left corner of the house, while a just-starting-to-bloom rhododendron greets you at the front door. The colors of the flowers are perfectly coordinated, creating a symphony of similar shades that delight the senses.

The beauty of the Osborne family’s home is further highlighted by the attention to detail that has been paid in its design. The symmetric placement of shrubs and careful selection of flowers and plants have created a landscape that is not only beautiful, but also welcoming. Before the azaleas fade for the season, we hope everyone will take some time to appreciate the colorful landscape that is found at 3423 Andover Drive.

Kirsten Youngren

Country Club Garden Club

The Country Hills Garden Club is pleased to award the October-November Beauty Spot of the Month to the Lescure’s at 10012 Spring Lake Terrace.  Avid gardeners, Nasrin and Steve, have put a lot of effort into their well landscaped haven, bordered by the Commons on one side and Accotink creek on the backside.

As you approach the front of the house, a curved brick walkway takes you along a flower bed containing a variety of perennials offering seasonal interest.  A large potted agave cactus has sent up a soaring stalk, signaling it is about to bloom.  I learn from the Lescure’s that this is the first time this has happened.  There is great anticipation for what will be unveiled.  An assortment of playful pots line the front entry, with a Zen frog welcoming you home.  Cheerful yellow mums, complement the pops of purple and pink offered by petunias, variegated liriope, pink muhly grass, purple coneflower, and catmint.

Japanese maple provide a focal point in the yard, while providing privacy and shade for the front side of the house.  A tall holly tree anchors the front left corner of the house, with hydrangea, various evergreen shrubs and Nandia wrapping along the distressed tan brick walls.  The sunny, left-side of the house, contains a lush green lawn with a mature fig tree along the property line and a crepe myrtle, with ascot rainbow spurge and daylilies surrounding it’s base.

Along the right side of the property, abundant sunlight not only feeds, but illuminates the assortment of flowering perennials that line the fence.  Roses, coreopsis, coneflowers, and cannas lead you to the ultimate fall fireworks, Steve’s pride and joy, his dahlias.  While past their peak, they are still going strong during these cooler days.  Steve has been nurturing these colorful, single and double flowering, dahlias for many years.  Each fall he lifts and stores the tubers until the falling spring.  A lot of work, but well worth the effort.

As you follow the vibrant property line, it leads you to a shaded stone path that takes you to the backyard and a flagstone patio.  A favorite spot for the Lescure family!  While not visible from the street, the backyard offers a more natural landscape in contrast to the well-manicured front side.  A sloped embankment contains a host of shade loving ferns, hydrangeas, azaleas, and camellias.  An enormous banana plant stands at the top, sending tall green fronds towards the sun.  For those that have visited the Commons, the banana plant found there was a donation from the Lescure property.

The Lescure’s take great pride in their well-maintained landscape.  As the colder nights approach, take advantage of the fleeting daylight to admire their outstanding property, the final Beauty Spot award this fall.  We’ll be back this spring to feature another amazing CCH property.

Kirsten Youngren

Country Club Garden Club