Monticello Yard Awards for July

The traveling gnome award only went as far as around the corner from its home last month for the monthly Monticello Beautification Awards.
Along 100 West and about 300 South, G.B. Palmer is displaying the well-earned award for July.
Palmer is the one that has “THAT yard”. You know, the one you drive past in early spring (when everyone else’s yard is teeming with dandelions), that has absolutely no dandelions to be found?
He tells us that he frequently sprays Weed and Feed and walks through his lawn with a fine toothed comb, digging up those pesky plants.
Palmer has one perennial that he enjoys watching come up every year. That plant is the medicinal herb feverfew. It has hundreds of tiny delicate daisy-like blossoms that are “aggressive and hard to control” according to Palmer, which he prefers to help cover ground that would be absent of foliage otherwise.
Palmer tells us that he doesn’t put all his hard work into his yard for show. It is something he truly enjoys and is necessary to him to stay busy.
Do you every find yourself at the very west end of Center Street where the blacktop ends? If not, you need to make it a point to see the George Jr and Yadhira Rice yard.
George has worked hard the past year or so to turn his front yard into a little slice of Xeriscape heaven. His landscape beds have a drip system installed beneath weed barrier (which traps moisture and slows evaporation).
The flowers have been carefully selected to reflect vibrant and vigorous native and drought-friendly plants. The drip system allows the Rice’s to use very little water and have a beautiful yard simultaneously!
George tells us that although he has a water wise yard, he feels like it’s still crucial to have a small piece of green lawn to add to the color and coolness of a yard.
George states that he puts so much energy into his lawn projects because it helps keep him centered.
Rice also states that if anyone is interested in installing their own drip system, he is willing to show his own to offer advice and guidance.