Drab to Fab - Julie Pollitt's Yard

Julie Pollitt

I've seen Julie and John Pollitt's yard, and it is the jewel of their neighborhood! Great job, John (Julie's husband)! I think the Bloomfield Garden Club would unanimously agree to give you the "Yard of the Month" award!

Here's what Julie has to say:

I’ve never had much of a green thumb. Thankfully, I married a great guy with the knack for gardening and landscaping. He turned our bland yard into the neighborhood beauty.

Backyard - after

Backyard - before

We went years without a stitch of grass. We’d send our kids out into the dirt abyss, forcing them to make a trip to the bath each time they came back in the house. I’ve learned in my few short years of living in Florida we’re on one large sand pile.

A couple years ago, my husband John, and his nephew Matt, added a gorgeous layer of sod to the yard, turning it into a carpet of lush, green happiness. John went the extra mile and added a large variety of low-maintenance shrubs and flowers. Although several of the plants were sold as annuals, I was surprised to see them bloom again this year.

Before planting, he mapped out the yard and created a garden area in front of the house, tilled the soil and planted the flora, finishing it off with a layer of mulch. Some of the plants include:

• Vincas
• Pentas
• Variegated Snow Queens
• Crepe Myrtles 

John asked me to find a couple of planters to place by the front door and add flowers, giving the outside entryway a pop. With an occasional watering, they stay happy in their pots.

He added a bushel of Mexican Petunias around the mailbox, and with bi-annual pruning, they thicken and grow. A Red Bird of Paradise sits a few feet away, which requires almost no maintenance. The deep red pod bursts open to reveal a vibrant yellowish, orange flower that stands out in any garden. It’s so beautiful that I get requests for the seeds each year.

With a little planning and a bit of care, John created a masterpiece that turns heads and slows down cars.

Visit Julie at her website: Julie Pollitt.