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‘Parrot Bay’

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A giant inflatable toucan named Chester floats in the pool at C.W. and Helen Jahn’s San Leon home. The Jahns are avid fans of birds. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Couple’s past farming lives and love of birds define San Leon yard

C.W. and Helen Jahn’s San Leon property is across the street from Galveston Bay, providing the couple with a partial view of the water from their upper deck. Yet, the water view isn’t the main attraction for the Jahns, who are avid fans of the green parrots that have been occupants of the area for many years. [Read more…]

‘Jewels in the water’

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Scott and Linda Sartorius relax by their 10,000-gallon koi pond in the backyard of their Clear Lake area home. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

Clear Lake area koi pond is a colorful backyard addition

When Scott and Linda Sartorius decided to expand their Clear Lake area home nine years ago, it consumed half their backyard, leaving just the right amount of space to add a koi pond. Or, perhaps, a koi pool. [Read more…]

Plumeria paradise

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Laura Makris and husband, Alex, and their dog, Coco, spend time gardening and relaxing in the backyard of their island bungalow. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

Flowering plants become obsession for islander

When Laura Makris was given two stalks of plumeria 18 years ago, little did she know the plants would become an obsession. [Read more…]

‘Nearer God’s heart’

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Donna Newding has spent countless hours creating a “cottage garden” in her backyard in Texas City. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Angels and other statuary tell stories in Texas City backyard

Donna Newding’s American elm tree spreads its limbs mightily over her Texas City backyard. Planted in 1952 by the previous homeowners, the tree has given her and her husband a lot of pleasure, but also some grief. [Read more…]

The birds and the bees

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Mark Fox swings in his San Leon backyard, which is a habitat for butterflies, birds and bees. Photo by Jennifer Reynolds

A San Leon yard teeming with variety of plants attracts pollinators and other wildlife

Forty years ago, Mark Fox had a one-man, lawn-mowing service in the Clear Lake area. His business consisted of a truck, a mower and a wheelbarrow. Because of his interest in botany and attraction to nature, Fox began to educate himself about anything and everything that had to do with native and habitat plants. [Read more…]

A different path

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Kemah residents Leona and Neal Pleasant sit on the patio in their backyard, which features plants and trees with a variety of colors and textures. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Kemah residents Leona and Neal Pleasant sit on the patio in their backyard, which features plants and trees with a variety of colors and textures. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Kemah couple creates English garden with a twist

Three years ago, Leona Pleasant and husband, Neal, purchased a vacant lot next to their home in Kemah’s Waterford Harbor community with plans to expand their backyard. [Read more…]

‘Stepping back in time’

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Tanya and Jeff Nuss sit under the covered area in the backyard of their Dickinson home. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Tanya and Jeff Nuss sit under the covered area in the backyard of their Dickinson home. Photo by Stuart Villanueva

Dickinson yard reflects personality of period home

Just off Interstate 45, as Dickinson Bayou winds its way under an overpass, is a house built in 1897 surrounded by 3.5 acres of wild brush, overgrown vines, a variety of tall trees and an abundance of ferns. [Read more…]