JULY YARD OF THE MONTH
If it seems like Ashland Avenue is dominating this year’s Yard of the Month competition, you are correct. This month’s winner at 2101 Ashland Avenue is the third Ashland yard to win the award in 2026.
There must be some special kind of friendly secret competition along the two blocks of Ashland Avenue between Camp Bowie Boulevard and El Campo Avenue. This month’s winner is the fifth Ashland house to receive the AHNA Yard of the Month award in less than two years.
When Texas State Representative Charlie Geren bought 2101 Ashland in 2014, he faced a completely stark, barren lot with no landscape or buildings on it. Besides designing and constructing a new home, Charlie had to start from scratch on the yard. By 2016, everything was finally ready for Charlie to move in with his wife Mindy Ellmer, a consultant who lives part time in Austin.
“I am very honored to receive this award,” Charlie says. “But all the credit goes to Circle G Services.” Clay McCook, owner of Circle G Services, designed the landscape layout, installed everything and has maintained it ever since. McCook still keeps close tabs on fine tuning everything. He says the front border of Magellan zinnias have begun to play out and will be changed out soon. Stay tuned for what is coming next.
At the end corners of the zinnia beds are blue salvia shrubs that are thriving and in full bloom from the summer heat. Behind the zinnias is a line of boxwoods that continue over to the adjoining beds of barberry shrubs.
Seven large blue pots along the front of the house are filled with Leland cypresses. White vinca and lime green sweet potato vines spill over the sides.
The vibrant green lawn is Tifway 419 Bermuda. “We’re learning as we go about what can grow well here,” says Mindy. Even though azaleas can be challenging in Fort Worth gardens, there’s a pink and red hedge of them along the east side of the house. “Charlie wanted them because that’s what was at his father’s home,” explains Mindy. Incidentally, Charlie’s father and grandfather, Preston Geren, Sr. and Preston Geren, Jr., were both highly regarded Fort Worth architects whose designs include local landmarks Arlington Heights High School and Farrington Field, among many other well-known buildings throughout the area.
Mindy describes the trees on the property as “a labor of love.” Two live oaks were planted to face Ashland Avenue; along Bryce Avenue are two October Glory maples and a Chinese pistache.
When Charlie is not tending to business at the Texas House of Representatives or overseeing the Railhead Smokehouse that he has owned since 1986, you very well might find him and Mindy sitting on their front porch enjoying their yard and the native fauna who they share it with.
Congratulations to Charlie and Mindy for being selected as AHNA’s July 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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