The Collington Grounds Committee “Yard of the Month” award, for the month of September, has been presented to Barbara and Fred Gray of 9842 Bafferton Road.

Barbara and Fred received this award two years ago as well. Not only are they making a statement in Collington with their green thumb, but friends from former communities still call and tell them how much they miss seeing their beautiful flowers. The Grays have lived in Collington for five years.
Included in this simple but elegant front yard are: light and dark pink vinca, white and pink begonias, abelia (which blooms yellow) Japanese holly, soft touch miniature cedar, a cherry tree which blooms pink in the spring and arborvitae.

Fred and Barbara do their own pruning. A very smart tip that Fred shared was to make sure to toss fertilizer in the hole just before planting your annuals. He uses a mixture of soil and fertilizer that can be purchased at our local home improvement store. And it goes without saying, Bloom Booster and Miracle Grow are a usual in just about all of our award winners’ yards! It truly will keep your blooms vibrant all season.
Barbara and Fred will have the “Yard of the Month” sign in their front yard till the end of October and received a $25. Lowes gift card.

Honorable mentions for September are: 13930 Collington Mews, 14406 Parracombe, and 14112 Hockliffe Lane.
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YOTM is chosen during the last week of May, June, July, August, September, and October (fall porch and yard décor). The criteria for picking are based on the front yard only. The committee looks for 1.) Overall turf health/nice balance of green, and well-manicured grass, 2.) Shrub maintenance and grooming (trimmed shrubs), 3.) Color/flowers being used to enhance the overall curb appeal. Once a resident receives the award, they are not eligible again for two years.  YOTM for December is a Holiday Award and has its own criteria for Classic and Festive décor, both are chosen in December.

The Collington Grounds Committee “Yard of the Month” award, for the month of August, has been presented to Richard and Vicki Gentile of 14549 Parracombe Lane.

Richard and Vicki also received this award in September of 2018. Their easy and simple green thumb techniques obviously are still working!! The Gentiles have lived in Collington for 8 years. While their front yard thumb print is small, the well-trimmed shrubs and flower choices will catch your eye right away.
The driveway post light welcomes friends with beautiful red and white hibiscus. The Holy bushes, that line the walkway to the front door, make a lush green back drop for the pink and white alternating begonias. Richard and Vicki’s gardening tips include: fertilizing with 10-10-10 as a base about 3 times a year and watering three times a week for at least 20 minutes in each zone. Vicki keeps the begonia blooms bright and fresh with Miracle Grow and Blossom Booster (alternating these each month). The New Genia inpatients, that are filling the large pots flanking the front porch, get the same treatments.
Richard and Vicki will have the “Yard of the Month” sign in their front yard till the end of September and received a $25. Lowes gift card.

Honorable mentions for August are: 11107 Collington Drive, 10543 Pembrooke Dock Place, 9842 Bafferton Lane, 14112 Hockliffe Lane.

YOTM is chosen during the last week of May, June, July, August, September; and October (fall décor). The criteria for picking are based on the front yard only (but we may include photos of side yards just for fun). We look for 1.) Overall turf health/nice balance of green, and well-manicured grass, 2.) Shrub maintenance and grooming (trimmed shrubs), 3.) Color/flowers being used to enhance the overall curb appeal. Once a resident receives the award, they are not eligible again for two years.  

YOTM for December is a Holiday Award and has it own criteria for Classic and Festive décor, both are chosen in December.

To view previous YOTM recipients, and steal their gardening tips and ideas, go to www.collingtonhoa.com/yard-of-the-month.

​COLLINGTON YARD OF THE MONTH – MAY 2021
 
The Collington Grounds Committee “Yard of the Month” award, for the month of May, has been presented to Don and Michelle Hines of 11215 Longtown Drive.
 
Don and Michelle have lived in Collington for 6 years. Don, a military veteran, and his wife Michelle have certainly found what works best in their yard, as it is beautiful throughout the season. Dons’ tips include, watering twice a day, especially with the heat we have already experienced, and feeding perennials and annuals every two weeks.
 
This established yard is very well maintained and groomed from the perennial shrubs down to the grass. Included in the front yard are: evergreen shrubs of different shades, dark pink Drift and Knockout Roses (which bloom first in the season), and Abelia, which are whitish pink in color and bloom after the roses start to fade. A white Crepe Myrtle in the center of the front yard sets the tone highlighting the potted geraniums framing the front porch.  Evergreens and tall grasses highlight other parts of the yard without overcrowding or making the yard to busy. This is a beautiful ‘postage stamp’ on our community.
 
Don and Michelle will have the “Yard of the Month” sign in their yard till the end of June and received a $25. Lowes Gift Card. 
 
Honorable mentions this month (who are still eligible for the award through out the season) include: 10012 Paddockwood Terrace, 14549 Parracombe Lane, 14531 Forest Row Trail, and 15012 Wooferton Drive.
 
As usual the Yard of the Month Award is difficult to choose as it takes quite a bit of time and there are so many beautiful yards throughout Collington. The committee members truly enjoy the opportunity to honor our residents who beautify our community with such incredible yard work. The YOTM is chosen during the last few weeks of May, June, July, August, September, October (fall décor). The criteria for picking are based on the front yard only. We look for 1.) Overall turf health/nice balance of green, and well manicured grass, 2.) Shrub maintance and grooming, 3.) Color/flowers being used to enhance the overall curb appeal. Once a resident receives the award they are not eligible again for two years. YOTM for December is a Holiday Award and has its own criteria for Classic and Festive décor, both chosen in December.
 
To find additional gardening tips, ideas for your own yard, and pictures of past award winning yards, go to collingtonhoa.com, committees/grounds/yard of the month.
 
We know gardening is not everyone’s forte and also that some residents are not able to do the work themselves or do not the time. We also realize that some sections of the community do not have front yards conducive to a lot of landscaping, or planting, in particular those who might have very small front yards. We do absolutely drive down every street in every section. It takes several hours of driving, taking notes, and going back to houses on our ‘stand out list’ to pick a house. We would love to have recommendations if you see a house worthy that you feel meets the criteria, even your own yard!!! Please send your recommendations to kayschiltz3@gmail.com.

As the grounds committee drove through the neighborhood, for two and a half hours the first night, then 45-60 minutes another couple of nights, to pick the Holiday House Festive and Classic awards for 2020, we were amazed at the number of homes decorated! This was the most difficult year ever to choose just ONE house for each award. We thought it would be nice to list Honorable Mentions, but we have a full page of Honorable Mentions for each award! It doesn't matter whether you have a BIG house or a SMALL house, the decorations were outstanding. Some we were sure are visible from space! Frontyards, backyards, side yards, all decked out. Storm troopers, baby yodas, Elfs, Santas, Bears, white lights, multi lights, spot lights, you name it. Moving parts, musical parts, videos, light shows! We had to see some houses during the day and night just to make decisions. Please keep doing what you are doing Collington, FANTASTIC JOB! The winners are not eligible for the next two years so we have kept our lists to check them twice - NEXT YEAR - and year after year! ​

For the Month of September 2020, the Grounds Committee has chosen 8961 Lavenham Loop as the “Yard of the Month”.

Owners Kate and David Beizer have lived in Collington for 2 years and do all their own planting and yard maintenance . The colors are bright and eye catching and very fresh even for the end of September! Kates tip is ‘Miracle Grow’!

The flowers includes dark and light pink vinca, purple asters and golden mums, and red knockout roses with a backdrop of  lush green boxwoods.  On the porch in beautiful red pots (that David picked out) are lime green and burgundy coleus. There is even a bit of welcoming whimsy added with a metal sculpture of a kitty near the front steps, so cute! 

Congratulations to Kate and David. They will have the “Yard of the Month” sign in their yard through this month and have received a $25 gift card from the Grounds Committee.

The next Yard of the Month to be awarded will be in December for Christmas décorations. There will be two awards: Festive and Classic, more info regarding criteria for these awards to come.

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The Collington Grounds Committee ‘Yard of the Month´ award, for the month of June, has been presented to Kathy and Mike Hurtz of 10800 Tealby Court.
 
This yard is like an oasis in the front. There is a multitude of color everywhere and fun places to sit to enjoy the view.
 
Kathy and Mike have lived in Collington for 16 years, being one of the first on their street. Kathy’s tips for a flower garden include 1.) know what type of garden you want, 2.) if you have no time to maintain it, definitely research to find plants that do not need a lot of care, perhaps perennial shrubs with different color foliage and bright annuals, 3.) Pay attention to the tree growth in your yard as every couple of years the amount of shade they give will change and so might the plants you normally would be planting under or near them. 4.) Take your time and be patient as some perennials take a few years to get established and will give you more blooms each year.
 
Kathy has plants that bloom at different times of the season so there is color from spring to fall.  Colorful pots on her porch add visual attention as well and the flowers in them. And don’t forget the pop of color in your porch rug to welcome visitors. Quaint paths and bird houses give the back yard a ‘park like’ atmosphere just begging for garden parties with friends.
 
The Grounds Committee really enjoys the opportunity to honor our residents who find the time to beautify our community with such incredible yard work. The drive through to pick “The Yard of the Month” is usually during the last full week of the month. The criteria for picking a yard is based on the front yard only. We look for 1.)  Overall turf health/nice balance of green, and well manicured grass, 2.) Shrub maintance and grooming, 3.) Color/flowers being used to enhance the overall curb appeal.
 
After the committee selected the Hurtz yard, Kathy invited us into their backyard. It was so impressive we thought we would include a couple of photos. Kathy and Mike will have a “Yard of the Month” sign in their front yard and will also receive a $25. Lowes gift card.
 
We know gardening is not everyone’s forte and also that some residents are not able to do the work themselves or do not have the time. We also realize that some sections of the community do not have front yards conducive to a lot of landscaping or planting, in particular those who might have very small front yards.

We do absolutely drive down every street in every section. It takes several hours driving, taking notes, and going back to houses on our ‘stand out list’ to pick a house. 

We would love to have recommendations if you see a house worthy in the neighborhood that you feel meets the criteria, even your own yard!!! Please send your recommendations to kayschiltz3@gmail.com.

​The Grounds Committee has selected 11006 Collington Drive as the Yard of the Month for May 2020. Valerie and Steve Hegeland have been residents in the Tealby section of Collington for 7 years.  Even though their yard was used as cement run off site during construction in the section before building on their lot, you would never know it from the lush beautiful landscape and color in their front and back yards. The flowering spiria, lilies, and crepe myrtle trees are trimmed and manicured beautifully as well and pops of color of annuals along their walkway. Additional flower beds in the front yard have beautifully placed shrubs and trees and are outlined by stone. The front porch even has a ‘magazine photo’ vignette with potted annuals and a lantern.  All walks and the drive way are trimmed while the grass is lush and green.
 
Steve says his wife chooses the plants and is the landscape designer in the family. Valerie says it has been a ‘hit and miss’ process over the years to figure out what works the best in this soil. Definitely worth the drive by to check out ideas of plants that thrive in our area. The Hegelands were given the pleasure of having the "Yard of the Month" sign in their front yard and a Lowe's $25.00 gift card so they can make even more additions to their yard.