October 2021 - 5227 Richard Ave

Congratulations to Priscilla Perry and Harris Block of 5227 Richard Ave. for winning our October 2021 Vickery Place Yard of the Month!

Recently, we met Priscilla and Harris at their brand-new Frank Lloyd Wright inspired “Modern Prairie” home for an in-depth tour of the many beautiful and thoughtful touches throughout. Inside and out, this Richard Ave. home is a work of art and we are thrilled to share some of their story with you.

Priscilla and Harris are from New York and Dallas, respectively. They lived and raised their family in Dallas. When it came time to build their urban “vision,” they fell in love with the homes of Vickery Place and chose to build here. Peter Block(Harris’s cousin) of Peter Block & Associates Architects, based in Atlanta, was the architect. The builder was Vickery Place’s very own Lyle Burgin and his partner and daughter, Lauren Basich, of Four LB Consulting, LLC (on Willis Ave.).

Priscilla and Harris wanted to live in an urban environment where they could enjoy a gorgeous landscape of native grasses and plants tolerant to Texas’ climate conditions. They took great care to ensure that the plantings, front and back, were colorful, lush, easy, and natural. Priscilla credits working with Lauren, the primary landscape designer, who provided her with many choices for the plantings and their placement. Chuck Rainwater of Rainwater Landscaping Services brought the plan to fruition.

The home’s front and back yards are sights to behold, connected by an artistic metal gate through which one can see from one end to the other. The entire yard is expertly designed to provide beauty, color, and privacy throughout. Priscilla and Harris commissioned C. Joseph @CJosephArt to paint a giant mural on their back fence that pays homage to the Texas Hill Country, replete with blue bonnets, grasses, trees and rocky outcrops (also featuring their cat, Khaleesi, hiding in the foliage).

Some things we learned from Priscilla and Harris include:

• Water your outdoor containers every day in Texas summers. Make the task even easier by rotating days or zones with your spouse/partner/family.

• Consult the experts! Create a plan with a landscape designer before putting anything in the ground. Be clear about what you want (or don’t want) and communicate regularly. In the long run, smart planning will save you money and time.

• When planting, look for unique containers that express your personal style. Priscilla and Harris like Ruibal’s Plants of Texas for many of the pots that they used inside and out. Indoors, consider using unexpected items that are unique to you - like decorative boxes or urns.

We want to thank Priscila and Harris for the behind-the-scenes tour of their beautiful new home. Please join us in congratulating our neighbors at 5227 Richard Ave for the Vickery Place Yard of The Month win for October 2021!

We also want to send a big thank you to Northaven Gardens for their sponsorship and for the $50 gift card they generously award our winners!