SEPTEMBER YARD OF THE MONTH
The native and drought tolerant plants that dominate the dramatic landscape at 1904 Hillcrest Avenue are thriving, despite this summer’s historic and recording-breaking heat.
No surprise that this month’s winning yard is the work of someone with a background in landscape design. Artist Michael Pavlovsky’s degree in landscape architecture from Texas A & M launched his career as a landscape architect. After several years of working as a professional, he abandoned that career path and earned an MFA from the University of North Texas. “I always wanted to pursue being an artist, so I feel lucky that I’ve been able to make a career of it,” he says. Known for his contemporary and representational sculptures, one of Michael’s most prestigious commissions was for a 7,000-pound bronze statue created as a centerpiece installation at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tennessee.
A gifted gardener, Michael started with a blank slate back in 1999 when he and his wife Christina bought a never developed empty lot at 1904 Hillcrest Avenue. When they moved into their newly built home in 2000, Michael wasted no time getting it planted. The design of the yard evolved over the years. Since being awarded the AHNA Yard of the Month in August 2014, several plants have been replaced or died. Some have more than doubled in size.
Michael’s guiding design principles of form, texture and movement are on display in the front curb rock bed dominated by a well-established stand of prickly pear cactus. Intertwined with the cactus is Silverado sage, topped off by a towering yucca rostrata, a favorite nesting place for local house finches. At the south corner is a cold hardy Texas mountain laurel bush that has already survived several challenging winters. Beneath it, two red yuccas and Spanish bayonets add contrast and movement. The bed of mixed river rock, Austin chalk limestone and red moss boulders are from Whiz Q Stone. Some of the limestone rocks were retrieved from the original excavation site for Central Market.
A hedge of dwarf burford hollies frames the sidewalk and the southern border of the yard. In the shade of the live oak are some tropicals, including alocasias and plumerias in pots that are moved to the backyard greenhouse for the winter. Two windmill palms, known for being cold hardy, are planted in the ground; so far they’ve survived several hard winters, rarely requiring to be wrapped. By the arched side yard gate is a native multi-trunked yaupon holly tree and trouble-free nandina domestica shrubs that provide winter color with their red berries.
The north side of the property is home to what Michael calls The Lizard Habitat, a four-foot-tall mound of rocks “that started out as a convenient place for me to toss the rocks I kept digging out of the garden beds,” Michael explains. “Over time it’s developed into this beehive of rocks that anoles and spiny lizards love to hang out in.” Above the rocks is a lone Italian cypress, a blooming desert willow tree, along with more Silverado sage and red yucca. Instead of digging out a dead cedar tree, Michael hacked it into a permanent sculptural remnant. “The birds like to perch on it,” he observes.
Along the northern border of the property are four dwarf yaupon hollies, Michael’s favorite shrub. “By far, it’s my favorite,” Michael says. “It’s easy to prune, it’s drought tolerant and cold hardy, has fine texture, birds like to nest in it, and it can take full sun or shade.”
Across the front of the house is a foundation planting of sea green junipers with a Spanish bayonet added for a vertical pop. Potted bougainvilleas provide a dash of color to the front patio courtyard.
When it’s time to select the color annuals, that’s Christina’s department. The Pavloskys shop everywhere, including Plant Shed and Mike’s Garden. Michael swears by Jemasco cedar mulch he buys from Plantus. “It’s a really good weed barrier.” He also highly recommends Archie’s premium potting soil that he spreads in all his beds annually; for his potted plants he mixes it with 25% native soil. Russell Feed & Supply is where Michael buys chicken manure pellets that he spreads throughout the garden. He also makes a fertilizing tea with the pellets by soaking them in water over the winter.
There’s not a blade of grass on the property. The sprinkler system hasn’t worked for years. Everything is hand watered. “It’s a more efficient way of watering,” according to Michael. “It’s therapy for me and it’s a good way to chill out.”
Michael often sets up a booth at Botanic Garden’s semi-annual plant sale where he sells plants from his garden. Look for him at next spring’s sale where he’ll be selling red yuccas, plumerias, prickly pear cactus and Texas mountain laurel.
On the side, Michael does all the historic restoration at Weatherford’s Chandor Gardens, including stone and flagstone work, as well as reconstructing the historic dragon fountain. He also built a new Asian arbor and created the life-sized bronze bust portrait of Douglas Chandor that’s on permanent display in the garden.
When Michael isn’t gardening, he’s working by commission as a sculptor. Soon to be a reality is Michael’s contribution to the Tarrant County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Monument slated for Veterans Memorial Park on Camp Bowie Boulevard.
Congratulations to the Pavlovskys for all the years of beauty they’ve brought to our neighborhood. 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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