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City
of Austin - Environmental/Conservation Program Manager,
Sharon Cooper, her husband David, and sons Colton and Connor,
have been very busy in the five years that they've lived
on Indigo Brush Drive. In Sharon's words, the original yard
was absolutely atrocious! They immediately began replacing
some of the grass with colorful, layered perennial beds
with an emphasis on plants that require little, if any,
watering. |
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Sharon, who spent
many of her younger years with her mother and grandmother
who were both avid gardeners, learned to appreciate the
nurturing of plants by playing in the garden. She has passed
on her appreciation of earth-wise gardening down to her
sons, who enjoy all the lizards and frogs that inhabit the
yard. Sharon believes a healthy abundance of these types
of creatures are a direct result of their chemical-free
yard! |
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Though
Sharon was a zoology major, she has always had a secret
love of color and design. She looked at the original landscaping
as a blank palette ready for a splash of color. She carefully
designed a vibrant, continuously-blooming yard, by planting
layers and layers of perennials which naturally paint the
yard with all shades of color. She prefers fiery reds, warm
oranges, bright purples, and sunny yellows. |
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The Cooper's backyard
is filled with tropical plants, fruit trees, and a vegetable
garden. It's not uncommon to see vines overflowing with
blueberries, grapes, and wild raspberries. By gardening
together with their sons, Sharon and David have taught them
first-hand that food is created in nature - not at the store. |
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In the process
of creating a healthy, chemical-free yard, Sharon
and David have attracted many wildlife creatures
including: hummingbirds, butterflies, lizards (like
this one that Colton found), frogs, rabbits, and
even an owl family! |
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Things
haven't always gone smoothly though, and Sharon and David
have had their fair share of unpleasant surprises. They
discovered one of their neighbors had unknowingly planted
an invasive species and it became a nuisance to their yard,
as well as the neighbor's. A detailed list in the City
of Austin's Native Plant Guide was a good resource for
educating neighbors and friends. |
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The Cooper's house
is located directly in front of their neighborhood community
mailboxes. They enjoy helping to make the stroll to the
mailbox a pleasant one for their neighbors, as they walk
past and enjoy the flowers.
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