When KDB staff dusted off the Yard of the Month signs back in March in anticipation of the new season one thing was clear – the sign posts needed some TLC. We knew the signs needed the work of a professional, so we reached out to Atlas Protective Coatings to see if they could help us out. Pat Quinn was a gem as we told him our situation and asked if they could help. They were up for the task, and donated their services for updating all eight of our sign posts! Because of this, they are a Pecan Level Business Member. We are so happy to have them as part of the KDB Business Membership team!
We have all seen someone flick a cigarette butt out a car window or drop a butt on the street, but did you know cigarettes butts make up 32% of all items littered in the United States?
From KDB’s most recent installation of 5 receptacles in June 2018, Quakertown Park has experienced a 66% decrease in cigarette litter. KDB also held 5 butt bucket workshops creating DIY receptacles for outside residences and gave away 400 car and 200 pocket ashtrays.
In addition to reduction efforts, KDB volunteers have cleaned up 112,300 cigarette butts from Downtown Denton, the Fry St. Area, and Quakertown Park in the last year. If these butts were put end to end, they would stretch 1.77 miles!
While cigarette butts were once made of natural materials, they are now manufactured cellulose acetate – plastic! This compound is the same plastic material that frames your sunglasses and builds park benches and takes years to decompose. To recycle the butts, KDB sends all cigarette litter collected to Terracycle.
Want to help pick-up butts or host a butt bucket workshop? Email volunteer@kdb.org to join in KDB’s next Cigarette Litter Cleanup (must be 18+ years of age to volunteer for this program).
Congratulations to our May 2019 Yard of the Month Winners!
If you have noticed a beautiful yard in your neighborhood, Nominate them for KDB’s Yard of the Month!
2509 Oak Park Rd. Christina Wassum’s home is a great example of what can be done with a shade yard. The front yard is full of blooming Lyre Leaf Sage and Bluebonnets both blue and white. Native plants are abundant including species such as Red Yucca, enjoyed by hummingbirds, Autumn Sage, and native trees. Very attractive and perfect.
2509 Oak Park Rd.
2217 Emerson Ln. This yard is full of plants that remain evergreen in our Texas heat. Connie Watkins describes the beautiful yard as a product of trial and error – encouraging words for new gardeners or homeowners! This eye-catching yard features a decomposed granite walkway and beds edged with landscape rock to accent a variety of plant species.
2217 Emerson Ln.
2204 Parkside Dr. Donna Irving’s yard is filled with her favorite plants. There is a stunning assortment of flowers including peonies and irises as well as numerous ferns that create a woodland effect. In 1984, when Donna moved into the home, there was not a single tree on the property! Today, many trees grow tall beautifying this lovely yard.
2204 Parkside Dr.
1917 Willowwood St. Lloyd and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick have resided at their home on Willowwood since 1994. This beautiful yard is an inspiration to anyone who has struggled to create a garden in the shade. The homeowners began with a single tree and through years of hard work have rendered a dazzling space filled with a robust variety of shade-loving plants among stately trees overhead. A handsome diagonal brick pathway cuts across the yard and leads one through the garden to the front porch. They describe their yard as a labor of love, and do all the landscaping themselves.
1917 Willowwood St.
705 N. Locust St. This month’s business winner, Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home, has a well-manicured lawn that features beds of seasonal flowers with purple shrubbery, Loropetalum, and Variegated Liriope grass. Adding to the beauty, the yard also features magnolia trees and a tiered fountain. This attractive property is hard to miss on one of Denton’s well-traveled streets!
705 N. Locust St.
8217 Montecito Dr. Bluebonnets fill the front yard of this lawn in south Denton. The property also features Lacebark Elm shade trees and a variety of shrubs line the house. The beds adjacent to the house are maintained with mulch and a natural-looking stone edge. In this nicely-groomed yard, all the elements complement each other to create an appealing aesthetic.
8217 Montecito Dr.
901 Jackson St. When Jeff and Gladys Wilson were newlyweds 13 years ago, Jeff noticed a few Yard of the Month signs in yards across Denton. He told Gladys one day they would have a sign in their yard. The Wilson’s yard features beautiful knockout rose bushes in full bloom. Tropical plants are also incorporated into the landscaping. These species were planted by Jeff for his wife who is from Guatemala.
901 Jackson St.
Want to become a judge? Contact Carly, Program & Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@kdb.org.
