Dream Backyards_March2012

HOUSTON

C RE AT E YO U R

PREMIERE ISSUE

PLUS

4

page

A pool with inf inite possibilities cover stor y

FRENCH FLAIR I N C Y P RES S

Pavilion kitchens become favorite gathering spaces NATURE CREATES A BACKYARD SANCTUARY

march

2012

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DR

HOUSTON

:: MARCH

2012

C RE AT E YO U R

inside this issue

4

VIEWS OF I N F I N I T Y

A lot on a lake in Katy becomes the spectacular site for a backyard infinity pool.

7

OVER THE TO P

A couple in The Woodlands creates an open-air cabana featuring an extensive outdoor kitchen.

about

n

CREATE YOUR DREAM BACKYARD Photos here and cover: Don A. Hoffman

9

F REN C H F LA I R

Cypress homeowners provide plenty of outdoor space for their young children to learn and play.

13

NAT U RE ’ S PA RA D I S E

Local residents enjoy a cozy outdoor room in which they relax while watching nature.

D E PA R T M E N T S

p.16 Lemon or Lime?

p.16 Blown Away

President & CEO: James W. Hopson

Editor: Sherry Beck Paprocki

Design: Christina Ullman, Ullman Design

Vice President News & Development: Jonathan McElvy

Director of Business Development: Brenda Miller-Fergerson

Vice President Sales & Marketing: Monica Liban

Sales Director: Donald Borucki

Writers: Cherie Foster Colburn, Jill Span, Cindy McMorris Tournier

Marketing Coordinator: Megan O’Sullivan

Expert advice about growing citrus in Houston’s climate.

Photographers: Don A. Hoffman, Kym M. Maier

The latest scoop on getting rid of mosquitoes.

Published by: ASP Westward 523 N. Sam Houston Parkway E. Suite 600 Houston, Texas 77060 (281) 668-1100 www.aspwestward.com

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:: PUBLISHER’S NOTE ::

Welcome to the first edition of Create Your Dream Backyard magazine.

FIND MORE INFORMATION ONLINE:

www.aspwestward.com

We, at ASP Westward, are pleased to deliver this peek inside some of the Houston area’s most picturesque backyards. And, we are delighted that local homeowners have granted us the privilege of telling you their stories.

Whether it’s an infinity swimming pool at the home of Jan and Paul Pool, of Katy, or a cozy outdoor room such as the one designed by the Burt family in The Woodlands, this issue is packed with inspiration that will help you make your own backyard an oasis your family and friends will love.

As you browse our pages, you’ll also read about luxurious gardens, welldesigned landscapes, comfortable patios and spectacular outdoor kitchens. In addition, this issue equips you with knowledge about the newest research

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for getting rid of mosquitoes and growing citrus in our climate.

As you dream about your own backyard have fun making sketches and creating lists, and remember that our advertisers are among your most valuable resources.

Thanks for joining us on this new adventure as we look into what we believe are some of the Houston area’s best backyards.

Sincerely, James W. Hopson President & CEO ASP Westward

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dream pools

A couple’s quest for waterfront property results in a project that merges their backyard swimming pool with the neighborhood lake.

S E A M LE S S BEAU T Y

The continuity between the two bodies of water was enhanced when the rectangular pool was finished in a medium gray to match natural hues in the lake and the sky. Now, water cascades over the edge of the pool and into a spillway below, following a natural curve in the lot.

Infinity

VIEWS OF

photography by

n

DON A. HOFFMAN

Katy residents Paul and Jan Pool always have been drawn to the water. As young parents, they spent weekends

camping with their two sons on the shores of Lake Conroe and they have owned a beach house in Galveston. story by

n

CINDY M c MORRIS TOU R N I ER

.05

So when they began looking for a new home in the Katy area, they focused their search on communities with waterfront properties. Although they never found the right house, they did find inspiration at one particular home. “We walked in and looked out at the lake [and] an infinity pool,” Paul recalls. “I said, ‘I’m going to do that someday.’”

Eventually, the couple purchased a waterfront lot in Windsor Park Lakes where Paul knew he had the opportunity to make his dream come true. Their first design consideration was that the infinity pool and the lake be visible from the living room, kitchen and front entrance.

In addition, Paul wanted the curve of the negative edge pool to exactly match the curve of the lot’s southeastern corner so he could see the pool from his study.

While easement issues forced the couple to redesign the contours of the pool, eliminating the study’s view, contractor Cinco Pools built the infinity pool of their dreams, and Paul delights in its design. “It can be hard to tell a difference between the pool and the lake,” he says.

The continuity between the two bodies of water was enhanced by plastering the rectangular pool in a medium gray to match natural hues in the lake and the sky. Water cascades over the edge of the pool and into a spillway below, following a natural curve in the lot. A similar curve at the front of the lot features a wooden dock for lake access. Although swimming is prohibited, boating is allowed. Jan and Paul enjoy kayak trips around the interconnected lakes of the subdivision.

The Pools regularly use their patio area to entertain family and friends, for holidays and celebrations, including wedding and baby showers. When Paul volunteered with a local Army recruitment office, he and Jan even hosted an entire Army company,

CONT INUED

dream pools

.06 including 50 soldiers, their spouses and children.

Paul is an accomplished grill-master, so when designing their backyard, an outdoor kitchen was a must. The covered kitchen features a Fisher & Paykel grill with an exhaust hood to divert smoke away from the guests. A nearby cabinet opens to reveal a flat-screen TV, adjustable for viewing from the pool, the grill or the patio’s seating areas.

Jan kept décor simple, allowing the view to be the focal point, but she acknowledged that their oversized space called for oversized furniture. Their first set of furniture “looked big in the store but it looked like a toy when we got it home,” she recalls. Today, the area features four distinct seating areas, each composed of durable weather-resistant furniture in dark finishes to complement the light-colored stucco and cast-stone exterior of the house.

>> Oleanders, Indian hawthorn, esperanza, foxtail ferns, agapanthus,

butterfly iris and repeat-blooming shrub roses were selected for the area.

At one end of the pool, chaise lounges host sunbathers on black and cream striped cushions. At the other end, a castaluminum dining set in neutral tones of bronze and gray provides seating for four underneath a red canvas umbrella.

A sturdy bar table and four swivel stools allow guests to converse with Paul as he grills, while against the back wall of the house, a comfortable conversation area features a sofa, swivel rocker, armchair and ottoman, all in chocolate resin wicker and upholstered in canvas. Paul’s office now opens onto a spacious patio with comfortable armchairs grouped around a coffee table—where he takes business meetings, weather permitting.

Assisted by their landscape contractor and a landscape architect, the Pools chose plants that are suitable to the backyard’s southern exposure and nearly constant breeze that flows through the yard. In the Mediterranean-themed subdivision, palm trees are nearly required. A low-growing Pindo palm provides structure and evergreen foliage to a seasonal color bed near the pool while tall and graceful Queen Palms

sway on the east side of the house above beds planted with red Knockout roses and purple fountain grass.

Although the Pools have traveled extensively, both Paul and Jan now agree that their favorite view is in their own backyard. As the sun sets and the moon begins to rise, it’s easy to understand why.

Cindy McMorris Tournier is a freelance writer in Katy.

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kitchens

ove� the top

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An outdoor kitchen becomes the favorite place to gather.

N

E W LY RET IRED EMP T Y NESTERS in The Woodlands wanted a place where the whole family and some of their friends could gather. So the man of the house drew a plan for the outdoor kitchen, and adjoining areas, based on his favorite spaces in Florida and Louisiana.

Today, whether this couple is planning a crawfish boil or an elegant dinner, their outdoor kitchen is now completely equipped. Working directly with Bill Hughes Inc., a former custom homebuilder in The Woodlands, an extensive open-air cabana went into the previously bare spot. Once the shell was in place, Texas Pit Crafters, of Tomball, installed top-of-the-line appliances in the kitchen area, framed in steel cabinetry. The unique countertop is from slabs of granite the homeowners personally chose with the help of a company called God Blessed. The black silver rock, named Titanium, has unusual gold seams.

Every attention to detail can be found here: a bar with a comfortable width for serving and eating, plenty of elbow room for at least two cooks at a time and appliances to accommodate varying sizes of crowds.

In addition, the area has bead-board ceilings, which were chosen for optimal acoustics. And, oversized hurricane drains ensure that the

ALL IN THE DETAILS

>> A Woodlands couple created an extensive outdoor living space where they could

host family and friends for events ranging from crawfish boils to formal dinners.

The covered space has magnificent views of the well-landscaped pool area.

photography by

n

KY M M . M A I ER

.08

CO N T I N U ED

kitchens

lakefront property will not flood when the next big storm strikes. A large drop-down television is visible from the entire space and near it is a sign that reads “SO CO”—what the family calls this place and their shortened term for Southern Comfort.

A swimming pool renovation by Crown Pools included new travertine flooring for the entire area, seamlessly integrating the old with the new.

A tabletop fireplace pit is the focal point of one seating area and is encircled by comfortable chairs that rock and swivel to provide views of the pool, lake or kitchen.

“We’ve always been outside a lot, but now we find ourselves out here every day,” says one of the homeowners. “It’s big enough for everyone and has something for everyone in it. It’s become our favorite room of the house!”

Contributor Cherie Foster Colburn is a professional landscape designer, author and freelance garden writer.

<< A tabletop fireplace pit is the

focal point of one seating area that provides views of the pool, lake or kitchen. < A top-of-the-line kitchen

area boasts enough room for at least two cooks at a time.

s

.09

UNIQUE S T Y LE

<< Cypress homeowners have used European styling to create a unique outdoor living space.

FRENCH A sprawling, 10-acre homestead provides plenty of territory for children, gardens and hobbies.

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:: FRENCH FLAIR ::

CO N T I N U ED

ven though she meticulously tended the gardens of her three-acre Cypress home, one local mother longed for a space where her family could sit on the porch and watch their horses run. She wanted a place where her children could appreciate life in the country, just as she had done while growing up.

Photo: Stephanie Baker/Ready to Grow Gardens

The family finally found such a site nearby, purchasing 10 acres in a subdivision near Little Cypress Creek, perfect for both horses and children. First, they built a carriage house with an apartment above, providing a convenient place to clean up after riding horses or fishing in their small lake. Then, when their Cypress home quickly sold, the couple lived in their carriage house apartment while they began building the home of their dreams.

Five years later, generous back porches now overlook a horse riding arena and the lake beyond. The property now includes several outbuildings in addition to the original carriage house. A pool house doubles as a gym while a spacious barn for their five horses also welcomes friends’ horses that need temporary shelter.

The surrounding landscape design was secondary to the structures. “The different buildings we needed really dictated the layout of the gardens,” explains the homeowner.

Although the couple has not yet visited France, they knew that the formal, symmetrical style of French gardening

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CO N T I N U ED

fit their vision for the front of their home. Their backyard, however, called for something casual: an open lawn surrounded by perennial borders. “I wanted it to invite you out into the lawn,” says the homeowner. “This is a place for the children to run and play and just be kids.”

Anchored by a massive fireplace, the home’s main back porch juts out toward the lawn. Comfortable seating here, near the ample summer kitchen, allows the couple to entertain or grill while keeping an eye on the children. A long harvest table with plenty of chairs for friends and family fills a side porch.

Dividing the house from its lawn without visual interruption is a low, stone wall, known in England as a ha-ha. A horse arena is situated between the lawn and the small lake, which the homeowner has stocked with bass to teach the children one of his favorite hobbies, fishing. It’s also a catch-basin for rainwater runoff from the property. Past that, the land gradually descends to the banks of Little Cypress Creek.

One of the home’s large oaks, located near the barn, continues to expand, its branches spreading out to provide a huge canopy of shade. Across the lawn, a large kitchen garden in raised beds thrives in the sun. A grapevine-covered fence encircles the fruits, vegetables and herbs that grow alongside old-fashioned blooming plants such as zinnias, poppies and heirloom roses.

The centerpiece of the garden is a charming stone shed. This area is where the couple’s three children—now ages 9 to toddler—are drawn, says their mother.

Their favorite garden art pieces can be found here, too. “We needed a less formal place for the kids’ art. You know, the things they pick out themselves,” she says.

“They really enjoy this garden, digging in the dirt, finding earthworms. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I wanted them to experience what I did as a child. Kids need to touch and feel and see, know how something grows, get their hands dirty.”

The garden—positioned right next to a wooden play structure—is also close

:: FRENC H F L A I R ::

<< The property now includes several outbuildings in addition to

the original carriage house. A pool house doubles as a gym while a spacious barn for their five horses also welcomes friends’ horses that need temporary shelter.

“I wanted them to experience what I did as a child. Kids need to touch and feel and see, know how something grows, get their hands dirty.”

Photos: (left) Stephanie Baker/Ready to Grow Gardens; (right) Kym M. Maier

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:: FRENCH FLAIR ::

CO N T I N U ED

enough for the mother to keep an eye on the children if they decide they’d rather swing or climb than dig.

Although she continues to enjoy gardening, having three young children currently limits her landscaping time. Thus, she recently enlisted the help of Stephanie Baker, owner of Ready to Grow Gardens, who visits once a week to keep the kitchen garden at its best.

Baker says last year’s drought made that task more difficult, but along with generous soil amendments and mulch, she found some varieties that took the heat in stride. Bite-sized ‘Sweet Chelsea’ and ‘Juliet’ tomatoes were among those plants. In this garden, though, much of the produce never makes it into the kitchen. The children are involved in everything, but especially love to

harvest. Because only organic products are used in this garden, the children are free to sweep through looking for ripe fruits, washing the dirt off in the shed’s sink, and eating them on the spot. Companion planting methods have been introduced, too, such as letting the tree-form blueberry provide shade for the heat-sensitive strawberry patch.

After purchasing additional acreage next door, the homeowner coaxed his father out of retirement to demolish old buildings on what was formerly a tree farm. Here, there are plans for an orchard along with a caretaker’s cabin. Their 9-year-old son has drawn sketches for a tree house, too. “He has a long wish list for that,” says his mother. “We’ll see.”

The homeowner now wishes, perhaps, that she had planted a different type of grass. And, she’s still nourishing soil that suffered from the clay brought in to build their house. “I think we’ll always be changing things, though,” she says. “It’s a work in progress.”

Meanwhile, she’s planning to add a butterfly garden to the children’s play area, which currently has a few perennials and a pomegranate tree on one edge. “When my son’s friends come over, they end up chasing lizards,” says the homeowner. “One of the boys had a jar completely full of them.

That really concerned my son. He wanted to make sure those lizards got to return to their own homes!”

Despite such challenges, this local mom is excited that her children often choose to spend time outdoors in an era of video games and too much television. This backyard has become the place the homeowners were seeking, offering their three children the broad experiences that come with a country life.

Contributor Cherie Foster Colburn is a professional landscape designer, author and freelance garden writer.

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LANDSCAPES

N AT U R E ’ S

PARADISE In The Woodlands, a family’s backyard matures as the children have grown.

hen Kim and Dave Burt moved to The Woodlands from the San Francisco area 11 years ago, their outdoor space was the main priority. photography by

n

KY M M. MAIER

ATTRACTING WILDLIFE

The driving force behind the design revolved around nature. Exterior lamps provide atmosphere, and make it a favorite spot for the homeowner to read and relax, while watching the squirrels and birds battle at the many nearby feeders. “I’ll have 20 to 30 birds out here at once,” she says.

Gaining a larger yard was the biggest perk of the move, but most houses they saw had huge swimming pools, an amenity not on their wish list at the time. The Burts wanted a natural backyard, full of trees and wonder for their young family.

Accustomed to being outdoors whenever the San Francisco weather allowed, the Burts assumed that the warmer Texas climate would permit them plenty of time outside.

They were not prepared for oppressive heat, constant humidity and annoying bugs that first summer brought, though. “We went outside practically every day,” says Kim. “Mosquitoes quickly became a factor.”

At the time of their move, their children, Maddy, 4, and Davey, almost 2, wanted to be outside whether it was raining or sunny. The family started a nature table— an ever-growing display of stones, bird nests and fallen pine cones discovered in the expansive backyard. But they were quickly confronted with the realities of living near the Gulf Coast, including the endless buzzing and stinging of mosquitoes anytime they attempted dining outdoors.

When a huge red oak outside the living room fell during a storm, the Burts began to rethink their home’s landscaping.

Because there was extensive damage to the great room and kitchen, they saw an opportunity to add an outdoor room that they could enjoy year-round.

They drew on the Asian influences from their previous community in the San Francisco area and decided to incorporate simplicity into their new space. They integrated the wood and slate floors that also were used throughout the house.

Everyone’s input was considered, including the children’s. It was decided the habitat garden would grow with them. “Zip lines and Airsoft battlegrounds became more appealing than a fairy garden,” says Kim. “We kept our nature table, but it has moved to the kitchen window and it’s really more for me now.” The family hand picked the river boulders that enclose the fire pit and the hummingbird garden. A fountain was created with a large piece of petrified wood. Instead of solid paving for the new walkway between the patio, fire pit, and porch, the Burts chose stained concrete stepping-stones that appear to float in a sea of Mexican beach pebbles.

In the past, the huge red oak shaded so much of the backyard it was difficult to grow vegetables and herbs, even though

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there was an attempt to move planted pots around the yard to catch the sun. With the huge shade tree now gone, the family was excited to create three raised beds. Planting peppers, beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and carrots, gardening quickly evolved into a competitive sport for the Burts, boys against girls. Daughter Maddy became enamored with growing vegetables.

At the end of their first growing season, the wooden garden boxes were moved and stacked on the sunnier side of the yard, where Maddy filled the chest-high box with organic materials and added a compost tumbler nearby. Now, after years of home schooling, the freshman in a public high school has little time for gardening, though. Still, the backyard is important. She enjoys hanging

A wicker basket next to the back door is filled with bows and arrows, as well as Airsoft guns, useful toys for now 12-year-old Davey.

Years after their initial home purchase, the Burts are now considering a swimming pool. “I was thinking a swimming pool with clean lines, like we’ve done with the walkways, might be nice,” says Kim. “We talked to a pool company and had them come in and mark the trees that would have to come down. We believe in living out with friends around the fire pit, roasting with a respect for nature, so seeing tags on all marshmallows and playing her guitar. those trees was devastating. That’s why it has Meanwhile, the family’s outdoor room has easily become an extension of the home’s taken us so long to make the decision.”

When she was out of town for a weekend, great room, furnished in comfortable outdoor sofas. Exterior lamps provide light, and make Dave and the children changed the potential pool layout, imagining a lagoon shape with it a favorite spot for Kim to read and relax, meandering waterways. Now, the family has while watching the squirrels and birds battle at the many nearby feeders. “I’ll have 20 to 30 come to an agreement: they’re planning a more active swimming pool with curves and grottos birds out here at once,” she says.

Dave Burt still enjoys the space, too. “We that swerve around existing trees, hoping to save spend a lot of time out here,” says Kim. The several of them. “When we include the whole family (in discussions), we always end up with built-in grill is in constant use, especially something better,” says Kim. during summer months. Its stone veneer complements the slate edging of the porch’s Contributor Cherie Foster Colburn is a floor. A combination of recessed and rope professional landscape designer, author and lighting creates an ethereal feel, while a freelance garden writer. giant ceiling fan discourages mosquitoes.

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.16

OUTDOORS

Lemon

OR

Lime ?

Texas experts advise caution for those who want the taste of citrus growing in their own backyards.

W

ith their colorful and fragrant blossoms followed by luscious fruit, it’s no wonder so many Houston area residents are charmed by citrus trees.

Citrus trees are largely ornamental and bear fruits, such as lemon, that can be used in everything from cooking to cleaning.

But if you’re new to the Texas citrus world, knowing what type of plant to choose and how to give it proper care can be overwhelming. “A lot of people want to start from seeds, but that could take years,” says Mary Karish, a certified citrus specialist in Denton County, whose love of citrus was piqued in her childhood days while growing up in the mountains of Lebanon. “It’s important to always make sure you buy citrus from a certified grower, and locally grown in Texas.”

The Texas Department of Agriculture requires that citrus plants be specially labeled with verifiable records that indicate that they were grown in the state. Experts agree that instead of looking for citrus plants at flea markets or roadside stands, homeowners should head to reputable nurseries or garden centers instead.

“A lot of people come in and they already have an idea of what they want because they’ve tasted someone else’s citrus or because they’ve always wanted a grapefruit tree or a lime tree,” says Mary Cummings, a manager at RCW Nursery, 15809 Tomball Parkway in Houston.

But for those who aren’t so sure of what they want, Cummings says they should start by asking themselves, “Do I need lemon for cocktails and baking or a more tart lemon for cooking?”

RCW’s citrus list entails 13 types of citrus with several variations of fruit options among those kinds. With so many varieties, a quick stop at a local produce section can help narrow the search.

Once homeowners determine their needs, they also need to consider their landscape.

Citrus should be planted in full sun. “Honey Mandarin are the only (plants) that can tolerate partial shade,” says Cummings.

She also advises first-time growers to carefully maintain well-drained beds with even moisture. In addition, citrus plants require special fertilizer. “They need extra zinc and magnesium—so you need to use a fertilizer specific for citrus and fruit trees,” she says.

Unlike Northern Texas, where citrus trees are grown in large pots and moved into green houses for the winter, the Houston climate is more forgiving, says Karish. “The >>

Blown

more south you go, the more citrus you can plant in the ground.”

Generally, citrus plants are semi-tropical, but certain varieties can withstand temperatures as low as 28 degrees.

To prevent unwanted freeze damage, she says that it’s important to plan ahead. “It’s best to use a ground cover material…and wrap the tree,” says Karish. If overnight plastic covering is used, it must be removed in the morning to keep the sunlight from burning the leaves.

Aside from preventing frost damage, watching for diseases is essential. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the citrus greening disease comes from a bacteria carried by an insect called the Asian citrus psyllid. It is one of the most serious widespread citrus diseases in the world.

Part of the mission of Texas A&M University’s Kingsville Citrus Center in Weslaco is to study citrus greening disease.

The center is working to get a foothold on the disease before it spreads rapidly throughout Texas, says John da Graca, the center’s director.

The citrus center is a hub for healthy citrus buds with more 100 varieties available.

Many Texas nurseries go through the center to get buds.

Eight counties in southern Texas are defined as the citrus zone, and da Graca says people are not permitted to bring citrus trees grown in the north down into that area.

According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, the law helps control the spread of disease.

In an effort to stop the greening disease, da Graca emphasizes the importance of buying citrus responsibly from a registered nursery or garden service. Make sure that it has that label, “Texas Citrus,” he adds.

— Jillian Span

AWAY Have you ever wondered why it’s rare to be bitten by a mosquito while walking on the beach? New research out of Rutgers University points to the reason: it's in the wind.

You can create your own bite-free zone by positioning a fan to blow where your family dines at dusk or sits during the evening.

Researchers revealed that even a relatively moderate breeze causes mosquitoes—which weigh less than .00036 of an ounce—to fly for cover.

With more air moving, there is no longer a

need for pesticides, which can be detrimental to even beneficial insects that aid in pest control and pollination. So instead of spraying, zapping, slapping or slathering, blow some air to create a mosquito-free space.

To help accomplish the task, a new breed of exterior fans is now available in various styles, shapes and sizes, both online and in stores. Consider hard-wired ceiling fans, portable misting fans, or battery operated, personal fans.

Look for a bigger motor and a larger bladespan, rather than simple blade count.

— Cherie Foster Colburn

Suggestions from the Hunter Fan Company regarding blade sizes and circulation area: A R E AS FEWER THAN 100 SQUARE FEET

30- to 48-inch blades A R E AS 100 TO 400 SQUARE FEET

50- to 54-inch blades A R EAS OVER 400 SQUARE FEET

56-inch, or longer blades

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