APRIL YARD OF THE MONTH
Brooke and Jason Best expanded on what previous homeowners left in the landscape at 4433 Calmont Avenue by harmoniously updating it with native plants and even some vegetables.
When Brooke and Jason Best bought their home at 4433 Calmont Avenue in 2014, the yard was already planted with old growth crepe myrtles lining the west and north curbs. Boxwoods and trumpet creeper surrounded the porch, with dwarf roses, Indian hawthorns, and laurels filling another front facing bed. The Bests had no plans to make changes to the landscaping, except to move two Spanish dagger yuccas that were beginning to dangerously intrude into the front walkway.
With the help of friends, the northwest corner of their yard was transformed into a new xeriscape bed for the yuccas, along with new plantings of Blackfoot daisies, Skeleton-leaf goldeneye, Russian sage, red yucca, skullcap, and Mexican Feather Grass. For visual interest, the new bed was topped off with decomposed granite and a few large rocks. The goal was to fill the bed with plants that could take the full sun exposure and the brutal heat reflecting off the pavement.
That project led to several more, including adding a retaining wall, as well as several new beds lined with red bricks from the family ranch in Scurry County, a trellis along the west side of the house, and a bluebonnet patch near the corner stop sign. The bluebonnets, started from seeds from Brooke’s aunt in Lubbock, have been a big success. “The trick is to put them in rocky, poor soil and treat them poorly,” Brooke has learned firsthand. “Bluebonnets love neglect!”
Brooke and Jason, both of whom work at Botanical Research Institute of Texas at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (BRIT), continue to work on expanding their perennial beds, using proven hardy native species when they can. They added a raised bed in the front yard for growing vegetables because their backyard is too shady to grow them. Their success with the veggies ebbs and flows, but they’ve learned “okra is tough as nails and green onions will live forever if you let them.” Their ultimate goal is “to someday have no lawn, no mowing, just plants that give back to the food web.”
Congratulations to Brooke and Jason for being selected as AHNA’s first Yard of the Month in 2025. 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 a yard you’d like to nominate for this award, please send the address to AHNA President Lori Murray Bosken at president@arlingtonheightsna.com.
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AHNA MEMBERSHIP MEETING TUESDAY APRIL 15
Please join us for the monthly membership meeting this coming Tuesday. Everyone is welcome to attend. All of our meetings are BYOB, so feel free to bring a cool one if you’re so inclined.
Tuesday April 15 at 6:30pm
Fort Worth Firefighters Hall
3855 Tulsa Way @ Crestline Rd.
GUEST SPEAKER: Steve McCoy, legendary plant guru from Archie’s Gardenland. Steve has answers to just about everything plant-related and always brings Archie’s freebies.
Free Mayfest tickets will be given away to a lucky few attendees.
Don’t miss this meeting!
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EASTER EVENTS AT THOMAS PLACE COMMUNITY CENTER
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FREE ADMISSION TO BOTANIC GARDEN FRIDAY APRIL 25
Thanks to Atmos Energy, Fort Worth Botanic Garden is free all day Friday April 25.
Lots of family-friendly activities are scheduled throughout the day on April 25 for the free Neighbors in Nature: An Earth and Arbor Day Celebration at Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Highlights include guided tours showcasing the Garden’s wonders, a mini-native plant sale, Story Walk Family Yoga with Yogi Squad, Storytime with Bella Begonia, Forest Therapy Walks, a Sound Bath experience, and a City Nature Challenge Bio Blitz.
Learn how to boost biodiversity, understand nature’s balance, and become a stronger advocate for the planet from renowned entomologist Dr. Douglas Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope. You need to book a spot to his lecture ahead of time.
For more information go to www.fwbg.org.
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FUNDRAISER FOR MASONIC LODGE FRIDAY APRIL 18
Arlington Heights Masonic Lodge #1184 at the corner of Camp Bowie Blvd. and Hulen St. opened its doors for the first time in 1923, making it 102 years old this year.
The Arlington Heights Masonic Lodge is one of the most beloved buildings on Camp Bowie Blvd. The Masons need help to maintain the building. Friday April 18 from 8:00am until 1:00pm they are holding a Clay Shoot Fundraiser at Defender Outdoors Clay Sports Ranch at 8270 Aledo Rd., Fort Worth 76126. Tickets start at $25. You can register at https://AHMLClaysforhistory.eventbrite.com.
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CAMP FORT WORTH SUMMER REGISTRATION
All Fort Worth community centers, including Thomas Place Community Center at 4237 Lafayette in Arlington Heights, are offering summer camps for youth ages 5-12.
Camp Fort Worth runs for eight-weeks beginning June 9 through August 1, starting at 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Cost is $65 per child per week. This does not include the cost of special field trips. Get a free week of camp if you register and pay in full before May 31. Multi-child discount is $60/child per week. Scholarships are available for $35/child per week.
This year, campers will participate in “research-based reading curriculum with 45 minutes of intentional and measurable instruction based on best practices provided by a trained literacy support specialist.”
Learn more and register online.
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