Parks & Recreation Department - Notable Yards 2008

GRASSFIELD. Kris Beaudry. 604 Santiago Court.

Walking in Kris Beaudry’s yard is like walking through a charming, lady-like gift shop.  It is full of hundreds of varieties of flowers, bushes, and trees, as well as yard art.

A just-wide-enough grassy path allows you to walk easily between joyfully colorful, curving beds full of beautiful plants and trees, including daylilies, Japanese maples, curly willow, miniature roses, ornamental grasses, zinnia, salvia, morning glory, and much more. Her neighbor calls her the Garden Ninja.

“I have always loved English gardens,” said Kris.  “Five year ago I began my gardens in an organized fashion, but it has, instead, grown into a mix of things that I love.  I like to propagate plants, and every year I have at least 600 seedlings that I have propagated.  I try to plan my garden so that as many birds and wildlife as possible visit my yard.”   Kris has four bird feeders, birdbaths, birdhouses, and the types of plants enjoyed by hummingbirds (like zinnias and salvia) and butterflies (like parsley and fennel).  She also makes compost in a hidden corner of her garden.  “I am particularly happy about all of the little earthworms in my garden,” said Kris.  “I think they like my garden because I’ve worked so hard to amend the soil.”

Her gardens are tastefully adorned with yard art, such as glass topiaries made out of recycled glass dishes, cups, vases, etc.  Handmade concrete leaf castings are also placed throughout the garden.  Both are made by members of an organization that Kris belongs to titled The Backyard Gardeners, which they sell as a fundraiser for the organization.  Go to www.thebackyardgardeners.org for more information. 

“I am really impressed by the interesting garden BEHIND her backyard fence, beside a drainage ditch,” said Vickie Greene, co-chair of the Notable Yards contest.  Included in this area is a charmingly casual and lush garden, which includes a large mimosa tree, holly trees, daylilies, Shasta daisies, cypress, red bud tree, canna lilies, and much more.