by Timothy Appling
It’s springtime in Fairmount and long-slumbering yards are awakening as warmer temperatures motivate residents to spruce up winter-weary landscapes. Lawns of straw give way to verdant sprigs of St. Augustine, Bermuda grass, and Zoysia. Daffodils and hyacinths have already put on a show, soon to be replaced by phlox,larkspur, roses, and dozens of brilliantly blooming botanicals that make Fairmount a jewel in the crown of Fort Worth. The greening of Fairmount is also a signal to resume our search for the Fairmount Yard of the Month. A short drive around the neighborhood brought us to 1405 6th Avenue, the home of Kendall Goetz, whose charming pale green two-story home with a sunny yellow door is our selection for the first YOTM of 2014.

1405 6th Ave.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am!” Kendall beamed when we dropped by to discuss her lauded landscape. Her smiling countenance was complemented by the cheery mounds of pale yellow petunias artfully placed across the front flower beds. “It’s a work in progress,” she humbly adds as we stroll around the yard discussing each plant variety. Two small, yet-to-be-planted beds flanking the walkway near the curb attest to that. But the areas that are planted provide enough curb appeal to make any homeowner justifiably proud.

A few bright yellow calla lilies dot the flower beds. Jade-green tongues of iris foliage point upward, promising a profusion of blooms to come. A few clumps of creeping phlox display pleasing purple flowers. Lamb’s ear, hostas, and rose bushes fill in most of the remainder. A large pecan tree is beginning to leaf and will provide much-appreciated shade in the upcoming summer. A crimson-leafed Japanese maple provides a focal point.

Kendall is an attorney who has resided on 6th Avenue with her two teenagers, Isabelle and Thomas, since 2010. Rounding out the family are Max, a gentle giant of a Great Dane, and Gorgeous and Wookie, two lively Shi Tzu mix canines. The home is of relatively recent construction, having been completed in 2006. The Goetzes lived briefly in Arlington Heights for a time before relocating to Fairmount. The convenience and attractiveness of Fairmount were a draw, but it may have been the backyard swimming pool—a Fairmount rarity—that clinched the deal.

Ms. Goetz has received a gift certificate from C. C.’s Touch of Nature in recognition of being chosen for YOTM honors.