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By PENNY BRAGG

Special to the Tribune

Published: June 25, 2008

PLANT CITY - The Plant City Garden Club beautification award for May goes to Mark and Vickie Connor of 902 Mahoney St.

Since the day they bought the house eight years ago, many improvements have been made inside and out.

The house has a fresh coat of paint, and the old screened porch is open and airy with reclaimed heartwood pine flooring that was hidden by several coats of gray carport paint. The awning across the front is soft dusty-pink and misty blue-green stripes, and those same colors can be found in the antique paned glass panel that was saved from a fire and now hangs over the porch swing.

After a history of living in condos and apartments, the Connors found that moving into a house with a yard opened up a whole new hobby and passion for them when they discovered the joys of gardening and outdoor entertaining.
Indian Hawthorne and day lilies edge the porch wall, and 16 roses and a duo of sago palms are planted near the house to the left. A roebelenii is there also, but its days in that position are numbered. Many of the plants are rather nomadic. If a plant outgrows its spot, or something else would look better there, Vickie Connor moves it. If it's too big for her to move it, she gets help.

A three-tiered pineapple fountain is in the front yard, which has new sod; and the front walkway is lined with ground covers of periwinkle, Asiatic jasmine and a mixture of white and yellow lantana. Mandevilla twines around the mailbox with its spring-green leaves and the anticipation of blooms to come. A network of mulched pathways and moss-fringed brick walkways guides your footsteps to and from various points around the property.

At the side of the property is a grouping that starts with low-growing blue daze and lantana; the second row is the slightly taller stromanthe. Next we see red and green ginger as well as the all green and the variegated varieties of shell ginger. Finally, as a backdrop, are the large cut leafs. Close by, a huge stand of white bird of paradise is seen with a height of at least 25 feet.

In the left corner area of the back yard is a pond with landscaping. The pond is very deep, and the fish are enormous and plentiful. Waterfalls and minibrooks run down over rocks into the pond, which is bordered by more rocks and a variety of plants. The tallest plants are the lacy Australian tree fern. Red-leafed ti plants and croton are the next tallest along with a variegated schefflera. Lawn chairs are set up beside the pond for relaxing, and a lighted ligustrum and a rope-lighted palm are there for nighttime atmosphere.

The Connors have found a solution to the mosquito aspect of outdoor relaxing and entertaining: They fill a spray bottle with original formula Listerine and spray the area generously. They have found it to be quite effective.

A large ficus tree has a whimsical seashell wind chime hanging from a limb and a rock-and-herb garden at its base. Sage, dill, rosemary, basil, thyme and pepper plants are doing well in this spot. Off to the side, tall bunches of lemon grass camouflage a back fence and a variety of planters is placed randomly around.

A brick sidewalk runs along the back of the house and turns the corner to the side and front of the house. This passes by a small fountain, some agapanthus and myriad dianella, which have variegated leaves and tiny blooms on delicate stalks. The corner of the house is graced with larger plants in the form of a pygmy date palm next to Chinese fan palm for a large and vertical element. Nestled among the palms are loropetalum, or Chinese fringe, whose leaves get a red "fringy" look to them, and more of the lilies.

The side yard has a gardenia hedge up next to the house with an extended bed of yellow bush daisies in front of it. The bush daisy plants love sun and heat, so they are doing well in this spot because they get plenty of both in this location. This brings us around to the front of the house again at the point where the stairs lead up to the porch. Peace lilies are along the wall, and caladiums are at the foot of the stairs.

Out into the yard and a bit away from the house is an old live oak tree providing shade. Enjoying the shade along with the periwinkle ground cover are several varieties of bromeliads, some of which are in bloom.

It is evident that the Connors enjoy finding just the right place for everything.

Penny Bragg is a member of the Plant City Garden Club.

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