AHNA SUMMER SOCIAL MIXER THIS TUESDAY
We decided it was time to break out and do something different for the June AHNA membership meeting. We’re moving the meeting to Winslow’s Wine Café and dispensing with regular business and speakers, to enjoy the company of each other in a relaxed atmosphere.
We’ll have some free nibbles for everyone. Cash bar, happy hour prices. To make things easier for our servers, please use your credit/debit cards.
TUESDAY JUNE 16
5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.
Come and go
Winslow’s Wine Café
4101 Camp Bowie Boulevard
For those who don’t like meetings, this is a great opportunity to meet your neighbors and make new friends.
As always, we welcome anyone to attend, not just AHNA members, so feel free to bring your neighbors and friends.
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JUNE YARD OF THE MONTH
There are so many lovely yards on Ashland Avenue, it was hard to decide which one would be this month’s winner. 2004 Ashland Avenue stood out for its cheerful blend of colors and textures arranged in harmonious combinations.
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FREE DANCE CONCERTS THIS THURSDAY THROUGH SUNDAY
Starting this Thursday June 18 through Sunday June 21, Ballet Concerto is presenting its annual free concert series. The shows start at 8:30 p.m. on the lawn at The Shops at Clearfork. Bring your own picnic basket and blanket and enjoy the entertainment. Popcorn and lemonade are available for sale. Purchase reserved seating and tables here.
Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, “Ballet Americana” is this year’s theme for Ballet Concerto’s Summer Dance Concerts.
This is the 44th year for Ballet Concerto to present its outdoor Summer Dance Concerts. The dance studios of Ballet Concerto have been in the heart of Arlington Heights on Camp Bowie Boulevard since 1981.
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HOMELESSNESS IN COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS SYMPOSIUM THIS MONDAY
WHEN: Monday, June 15, 2026
TIME: 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
WHERE: Texas Wesleyan University, Martin University Center Ballroom, 2nd floor
COST: Free entry and parking. Reserve your space here
Resource Fair starts at 6:00 p.m. Moderated panel conversation starts at 6:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Reba Henry at phsna.info@gmail.com, 817-929-4054
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WATER AND SEWER CONSTRUCTION UPDATES
If you missed the public meeting held on May 14 about the upcoming water and sewer project in Arlington Heights, here is the power point presentation that was given.
According to Project Inspector Richard Walden, the construction schedule for Arlington Heights has not yet begun and no start date has been confirmed. As soon as we get information about a start date, we will let you know. Homeowners will be given a 7-day notice before work begins near their property.
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MAY MEMBERSHIP MEETING
TUESDAY MAY 19 at 6:30pm
3855 Tulsa Way at Crestline Rd.
Fort Worth Firefighters Hall
Our meetings are always open to the public, so c’mon out and join in the fun.
You don’t need to be a member to attend.
The neighborhood crime report from our Neighborhood Patrol Officer will be followed by a few short items of business. Then, it’s showtime for Susan Urshel, esteemed horticulturist from the North Hi Mount neighborhood, and Amy Culbertson, former Star Telegram writer who lives in Austin now. Susan and Amy will be talking about their year long journey across Texas visiting public gardens for their brand new hot-off-the-press book A Traveler’s Guide to Texas Gardens that they’ll be selling ($8.95) and signing at the meeting after their presentation.
Susan has been a professional horticulturalist for more than 40 years with a prestigious client list. Recently retired as head horticulturalist for a 9-acre private estate in Fort Worth, Susan knows her stuff about plants and gardens. Co-author Amy Culbertson has had a 40-year writing career, including a six-year stint as the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s food editor.
AHNA meetings are always BYOB, so feel free to bring your own alcoholic beverages to enjoy and/or share.
There is an accessible entrance on the east side of the building for anyone not wishing to use the stairs.
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MAY YARD OF THE MONTH
The front yard at 4000 Birchman is a literal treasury of plants. From perennials to annuals, there is something for every taste. Take a peek through the chain link fence at the backyard– it’s even better! Photo by Katie Bush
As soon as Paula Costa and Russ Whaley moved into their 1941 bungalow ten years ago, they immediately got to work transforming their yard into what it is today. It helped that they both worked at Calloway’s Nursery and both are certified by the Texas Nursery and Landscape Association as Texas Master Certified Nursery Professionals.
It’s no wonder you’ll find here some unique and unusual plants like Bat Face Cuphea with flowers that resemble the face of a bat and Kangaroo Paw whose flowers resemble you know what. But, it’s not all exotica. Paula loves colorful annuals, including geraniums, New Guinea impatiens, petunias and Gerber daisies. Roses are big favorites, too–last count was over 60 plants.
“Gardening is trial by error,” admits Paula. “If you see a plant you like, buy it and put it in a pot and see what happens.” Her secret key to gardening? It’s all about the sun. “I always encourage people to spend a day making notes about what the sun is doing in your yard at different times of the day. If you plant a shade plant in the sun, it’s probably not going to do well.”
Paula and Russ have learned firsthand that gardens change with time. When they first moved into their Birchman house, they planted a Little Gem Magnolia. Over time, the live oak tree in front of it got so big, it blocked the sun to the magnolia. In its place is now a Bright ‘N Tight Cherry Laurel.
When a Bradford Pear tree that came with the house got fire blight last year, they took it out. It had been providing shade to an entire bed of shade plants, like hostas, holly ferns, Monrovia Crème de Menthe, pittosporum, and an Emperor 1 Japanese Maple. “We’re holding our breath to see what happens when all those plants start getting a lot of sun,” Paula says with fingers crossed..
Tucked in throughout the yard are urns of iris with Calibrachoa and Creeping Jenny cascading down the sides. Crowd favorites are the Weeping Autumn Blaze Maple and the Ruby Falls Weeping Redbud. Two extra fragrant plants, Purple Heliotrope and Sambac Jasmine, are planted by the side yard gate for the enjoyment of whoever passes by.
Last year, Paula and Russ took the plunge to put in an irrigation system. It’s been a huge step forward for them. Their grass is a combination of St. Augustine, zoysia with a little bit of Bermuda popping up. They fertilize with pre-emergent in March and June to keep weed seeds from germinating. Following Neil Sperry’s advice, they use straight nitrogen on their grass. They like granular 21-0-0 All Nitrogen from Calloway’s Nursery. They strongly advise against using Weed and Seed because it fertilizes the weeds along with the grass.
This past August, they had their house painted baby blue with darker blue accents. Another splurge was the mahogany door that was stained a dark brown.
Russ recently retired from Calloway’s after 36 years there. Paula is still going strong, working out of the corporate offices to manage the Calloway’s Pick & Plant program which started in 2017. Customers that sign up for the program can go to Calloway’s and buy whatever plants they want and then pay extra for someone to bring the plants to your home and plant them. Because Calloway’s doesn’t directly provide any landscape design or installation, this program fills a much-needed service.
Paula has promised to host soon a group of interested AHNA members to tour her backyard garden that includes an amazing perennial garden and roses. Stay tuned.
Congratulations to Paula and Russ for being selected as AHNA’s May Yard of the Month. They received a $25 gift certificate to Archie’s Gardenland and a year’s membership in Arlington Heights Neighborhood Association, courtesy of AHNA.
If you see an award-worthy yard, even your own, please let us know by sending the address to president@arlingtonheightsna.com.
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