December 2014 Metro Albany Yard of the Month

ALBANY — With the December Yard of the Month selection, the chair of the Daffodil Garden Club stumbled onto a bit of a legacy.

“I knocked on the door at 3512 West Surrey Road and explained why I was there,” Marideane Maxwell, who chairs the club’s selection committee, said. Martha Johnston answered the door and immediately asked Maxwell if she had attended Albany High School.

“She turned out to be the daughter of Vi Strong, who was a great flower lady,” Maxwell said. Strong for a number of years wrote a weekly gardening column for The Albany Herald.

“Martha said, ‘It’s my husband, Ray, who does all this year work and he will really be upset that the cold has stung some of the plants and trees, and the yard is not at its peak,’” Maxwell said. “Everyone is in the same boat, but you will still see a beautiful landscape with outstanding trees and shrubs.”

Martha Johnston said they have lived “forever” at the residence, which is the last house on Surrey and near the intersection with Cambridge. Ray Johnston said he has more than 40 varieties of maple on their property.

Maxwell said she appreciates those who take time to call her to suggest yards for the club’s monthly award.

“The Daffodil Garden Club has been doing this for a number of years and I get call about yards that have already been featured, so do not think that your suggestion has been overlooked,” she said.

The club meets at 11:30 a.m. on the third Tuesday of the month at the Garden Center, 808 Fifth Ave., with no meetings during the summer months and the December meeting away from the center, which has been refurbished and is available for rental. The next regular meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. Jan. 20.

To nominate a residence, contact Maxwell at (229) 436-6888.