By Sydney Ashby
Do not let the fact that Sandy Furrh’s yard is composed mostly of perennials make you think that she doesn’t work hard each week to keep her yard beautiful. Although she is not planting flowers and shrubs each year, you can bank on the fact that she will be up early every Saturday morning weeding, trimming, mowing, edging, and watering. This consistent dedication has produced a colorful, tidy, and unique yard at 1993 Nelson.
With lantana near the walkway, Sandy also has verbena, lavender, iris, salvia, cone flowers, ruellia, and rosemary bordering her entire yard. Hostas and other groundcover are up against the house, while a huge and healthy fern sits in a stone planter on her front porch. A Chinese maple (under which one of her cats, Cali, likes to lounge) and a ginkgo tree add balance and girth to the yard.
Sandy has lived in Cooper-Young for over 20 years with her husband Walter, where they have raised a daughter and two sons. She says that anytime she is working in her garden, “I get a chance to see first hand what a vibrant and active neighborhood CY is. I always have multiple conversations with my neighbors when I’m out working.” So, stop by on a Saturday morning and let Sandy know how much you appreciate her making our neighborhood beautiful.

By Sydney Ashby

You would not notice it by walking or driving by 2072 Oliver, but there is an oasis just up the front porch steps. Lisa Marr and Steve Lancaster, along with her daughters, Brittany and Mallory, have created a lovely, shaded area on their front porch that is easily ten degrees cooler than the outside temperature. As you pass their home you will, however, notice the bright flowers at the end of their walkway, which includes lantana, vinca, petunias, and moss rose. To the right you also cannot help but admire the vibrant sweet potato vine surrounding the birdbath.

Steve keeps up the lawn, colorful vines, and floral accents. Lisa does her part by keeping many potted plants and lush greenery on their front porch Shangri-la. Besides the plants, there are iron works of art and wind chimes that help create a relaxed and inviting mood, while shades help keep out the sun and fans create airflow.

Lisa has lived in Cooper-Young since 1987, and she and her household love it because of the “wonderful neighbors, lovely historic homes, and a community that honors unique expression.” Steve has lived in just about every area of Memphis and has decided that there is absolutely no better place to be than Cooper-Young. So, take time to enjoy the colorful yard and say hello to Steve and Lisa. They are probably sitting on their front porch, enjoying the neighborhood.

By Sydney Ashby

Since moving to the United States from Vienna, Austria in 1956, Charlotte Dunn has spent all but three months in and around the Cooper-Young area. Those of you who have been in the neighborhood awhile may remember Charlotte’s Place on Cooper at Peabody (where Eclectic Eye is now), or as it was nicknamed in its heyday, “South Cooper Country Club.” Ms. Dunn started working there as a waitress and a few years later, bought it and then operated it for 42 years. Many claimed that she served the coldest beer in town.

Since retiring, Ms. Dunn moved into what she describes as her dream home at 2171 Elzey. And despite being 78-years-old and experiencing a horrible car accident and years later a stroke, she has not let that detract her from working in her yard. “It’s a stress reliever,” she said. Her front yard is an explosion of color, with an array of mums, geraniums, pansies, and marigolds. There are Siberian wallflowers, petunias, and zinnias in pots on her porch and even a small water feature by the walkway to her door. Swing by to admire her handiwork and appreciate one of the many unique people that make up the CY neighborhood.

By Sydney Ashby

If you drive down Nelson Avenue between Barksdale and McLean, chances are you will see Georgia Woods outside either working in her yard or sitting on her front porch. She moved into 1845 Nelson in 2005, and the only item in her yard was a small white oak tree that needed some tender loving care. With help from her son, she transformed her yard and created two new beds by adding a variety of plants, bushes, and trees that bloom in waves. There are two beds containing an assortment of colorful flowers and plants with a border that Georgia’s son installed. Unfortunately, he passed away two years ago, but Georgia keeps a cedar in a pot in the bed closest to her house that he gave to her when it was about a foot tall. Now it stands over five feet tall and is a reminder of his helpful spirit.
The next time you pass by, notice the purple shamrocks; the dark pink azaleas; the red, yellow, and orange lilies; the boxwoods; and the light pink climbing rose bush. There are also a variety of hostas, rhododendron, mums in pots, and the two most prominent features: the white oak (looking much healthier) and plum trees. And to make sure the beds have visitors, there is even a small birdbath.
Georgia enjoys living in Cooper-Young, with both she and her daughter remarking how much they appreciate the quiet of their street. Georgia enjoys being able to sit on her front porch listening to the sounds of nature and talking to her neighbors. So the next time you see her, give Georgia a wave and thank her for helping to make Cooper-Young a great place to live, worship, work, and play.
Midtown Nursery at Central and Cooper is now a CY Yard of the Month sponsor. In addition to providing a new sign to display in the winner’s lawn, Midtown Nursery will also give each award recipient a $25 gift certificate. Thanks Midtown Nursery for your participation and generosity!

By Sydney Ashby

One of the first things one notices when passing by 1972 Evelyn are the gorgeous, multi-colored tulips that line the shrubbery in front of the house. After that there are an array of bushes, trees, flowers, and potted plants to enjoy. Evergreens by the steps welcome visitors to Libby and Jonathan Flynt’s house, where they have lived for a little more than one year. They have done an excellent job taking care of the holly, daffodil, iris, lady banks rose, and tiger lilies. And they have added potted basil, mint, chives, and rosemary on their steps. The yard is anchored by a magnolia tree, which is the perfect southern touch for a couple who moved from New York City. Libby says that they moved to Cooper-Young because, “We wanted a house with a lot of character and a neighborhood where we could be friends with our neighbors and walk to dinner.” That is why Cooper-Young is the ideal place to live, worship, work, and play. Libby agrees, stating that, “CY is the perfect spot for us!”

By Sydney Ashby
Hector Martinez and Stephen Osborn at 1844 Young Avenue have poured blood, sweat, and tears into their yard and it shows. When they first moved into the house in December 2007, the entire yard was an eye sore. However, instead of starting from scratch, they decided to begin their makeover by salvaging what they could, rearranging, and transplanting. For example, two Japanese maples (the Twins as they are called) were moved to the front from the back and are thriving. An arborvitae, which was in the front yard and taking over the walkway, was moved to the back yard. It was the largest thing they had ever transplanted. For months they went out everyday and watered it, nursed it, and told it, “We hope you don’t die!” It didn’t, and that shrub is now affectionately named Hope.
Hector and Stephen have made it a habit to name many of their plants, shrubs, and trees. Plus, they enjoy planting new items to commemorate special occasions and special friends. There is a persimmon in the back yard called Elvis and a new red bud on the west side of the house named Annie, which they planted on their fifth anniversary. The three azaleas in the front yard were given as a parting gift from three good friends, Kristina, Dimitri, and Chance, when they moved to California. So of course, those are now the azaleas’ names.
The yard blooms hyacinth, crocuses, daffodils, and tulips in the spring and amaryllis in the early summer. And don’t be surprised if you see Hector and Stephen gardening their miniature crepe myrtles, hydrangeas, gardenias, and nadia in the late evening, as they refer to themselves as “the Midnight Gardeners”. On a Saturday afternoon during the course of rehabbing the yard, Stephen accidentally killed all the grass in an attempt to rid the yard of only crabgrass. Not wanting a yard full of dead grass, they managed to convince Home Depot to deliver sod that evening and then stayed up until 4am tilling, planting, and watering. Please stop by, admire their yard, and thank them for such dedication! You may find them on their front porch, which has many potted plants, enjoying a cup of coffee in the morning or a beer in the afternoon.