Yard of the Month 2022 - 2023
October 2023 Yard of the Month
25 Allendale Dr, Bella Vista 72714
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Congratulations to Barney & Kathy Kunkel who have been selected as the Bella Vista Garden Club Yard of the Month. The Kunkels moved to BV from Wichita Kansas in 2012. Barney father worked for Boeing, so they moved around a lot when he was young but has visited BV with his parents since 1979. Before retirement, Barney worked in the aerospace missile industry so again moved around a lot. He met Kathy at work in Kansas where she was keeping books for a machine shop.
Kathy loves native landscapes and plants and is very good at moving plants around to where they want to be. Barney is an artist at heart and has done some great designs using everything including (literally) the kitchen sink! They have completely landscaped their original yard and the two side lots next to them. In fact, their neighbors gave them a great sign for their side yard to show their appreciation for the great work they do. Barney and Kathy take great pride in their yard and have a lovely front, side and a backyard full of birds, plants and nature.
The Bella Vista Garden Club thanks you, Barney & Kathy for yet another example of a well-kept yard and helping to keep Bella Vista beautiful year-round!
The Bella Vista Garden Club promotes and rewards exemplary yard care in Bella Vista and recognizes neighbors who demonstrate above-average efforts in maintaining their property, which contributes to the overall appearance of the community at large.
All homes and businesses in Bella Vista are eligible. Nominations are for the front and side yards jointly. One yard is chosen each month by members of BVGC who select the yard that best exemplifies uniqueness, beauty and curb appeal. Nominate a yard today via email: portillo.jb@gmail.com. Please provide the address and the homeowners name if known. All nominations will be in the running for future recognition.
September 2023 Yard of the Month
37 O’Neil Circle, Bella Vista 72715
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Congratulations to Don and Esther Hood who have been selected as the Bella Vista Garden Club Yard of the Month nominated by Peggy Evans who noticed their beautiful yard while attending an estate sale next door. The Hoods are both originally from Wyoming and grew up on farms - Esther on an irrigation farm and Don on a dairy farm. They went to college at the same time but started dating after meeting at a horse race.
Don worked in Range Management and Soil Conservation, even measuring snow on the mountain. Esther worked as a secretary, bookkeeper and ran a daycare. After 30 years they moved to Nebraska where Don continued working in Natural Resources for the State.
After a while, they both decided to go out on their own and start a nursery. They worked hard over the next 16 years to build it into an 80 acre thriving enterprise. Esther planted 24,000 bedding plants each year for resale and together they maintained 3 greenhouses. Don oversaw shrubs, trees and perennials.
They moved to Bella Vista about 16 years ago and recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. They both take great pride in their yard and have a lovely front, side and a backyard full of birds, plants and nature. Many of you may remember Don helping out at the Bella Vista Computer Club for many years. He still helps friends in need!
The Bella Vista Garden Club thanks you, Don and Esther, for yet another example of a well-kept yard and helping to keep Bella Vista beautiful year-round!
August 2023 Yard of the Month
12 Coylton Dr, Bella Vista AR 72715
Congratulations to Angela and Mark Dubivsky, who have been selected as the Bella Vista Garden Club Yard of the Month nominated by their friend, Jeanne Eibes.
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Mark and Angela were born and raised in NJ and most recently resided in Central Jersey until 2019 when they relocated to beautiful Bella Vista. About 20 years ago they vacationed in Eureka Springs and Hot Springs and learned about Cooper’s Master Planned Communities. They had an opportunity to visit Hot Springs Village and were impressed with the concept. When retirement neared, we did some research to learn where other Master Planned Communities were located in the US, and found them only in Arkansas, Tennessee and South Carolina. After visiting several of them, we decided that Bella Vista offered the most social, recreational and cultural opportunities and convenience. They re-visited Bella Vista in October 2019 and stayed a month to make sure we felt comfortable in the community. They loved it, bought some land and found a builder to construct their home. They returned in March 2020 to finalize the design of their house which was completed in March 2021.
Mark worked in a variety of companies in NJ, serving as an Internet Engineer. He enjoys camping, fishing (especially fly fishing and fly tying), hiking, biking, archery, watching team sports, singing and games. (In NJ he sang in Barbershop Harmony Choruses and Quartets). He is a member of the Bella Vista Fly Tying Club.
Angela ran a county-wide Nutrition Program for Older Adults, overseeing the operation of up to 8 multi – purpose senior wellness centers and the Meals on Wheels Program. In addition to gardening, she enjoys reading, crafting, flower arranging (especially Japanese Flower Arranging – (Ikebana) cooking, sour dough bread baking, birdwatching, walking, singing and games (especially Mahjongg). She teaches mahjongg classes in my home and occasional other classes (i.e., napkin folding, pasta making and will be doing an upcoming class on how to make textured papers for crafting). Angela can be seen working in her gardens daily. In addition to planting, weeding and dead heading, she is checking out the armadillo traffic after significant damage was done in every flower bed last year. So far this year, she has trapped and relocated 12 armadillos. Angela keeps the deer from nibbling by using the Bella Vista Garden Club’s recipe along with other commercial granular products.
The Bella Vista Garden Club thanks you, Angela & Mark, for yet another example of a well-kept yard and helping to keep Bella Vista beautiful year-round!
July 2023 Yard of the Month
2 Barley Ln, Bella Vista AR
Congratulations to Betty McCollum & Leon Wierusz , who have been selected as the Bella Vista Garden Club Yard of the Month.
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They have been selected as the Bella Vista Garden Club Yard of the Month nominated by their neighbor, Donna Hutchinson. They have been in Bella Vista 4 1/2 years and moved here from Washington state. They moved around a lot in the military. Leon is a retired Air Force veteran and worked in the automotive industry in Chicago as well. Betty was born in Arkansas but lived many years in Seattle and worked for Photoworks.
Both are now retired and are enjoying Bella Vista life. Betty and Leon have totally transformed the yard since moving here. Betty does the design and plant selection and Leon does the heavy lifting including installing an irrigation system. They have a great little seating area under a huge tree in the front making a special place for entertaining and relaxing. Betty has a great talent for selecting plants and designing companion beds. Especially delightful is the mixture of vegetables and flowers in the same bed.
The Bella Vista Garden Club thanks you, Betty and Leon, for yet another example of a well-kept yard and helping to keep Bella Vista beautiful year-round!