September’s Yard of the Month award goes to Joan Watson.

Joan, a retired State of Florida Insurance Commissioner and Fire Marshall employee for 30 years, after the death of her husband, sold her North Georgia mountain home three years ago and began to search for a new beginning.

Realizing she had a choice as to where she might live, the road to the Fairhope/Daphne area and the Lake Forest subdivision always seemed to call. Finally, 139 Hope Dr. became her home. Upon pulling into the driveway and seeing that the yard was quite a challenge, she decided that this truly was for her.

It has been a standing joke between some of her neighbors and herself that they would be getting “Yard of the Month”, but if there was a “Most Improved Yard” she would receive it, or at least be at the top of the list.

Joan finds that working in her yard is one of the most relaxing and rewarding things there is. She had discovered plants such as sweet olive, begonias, a weeping yaupon holly, geraniums, azaleas, a Japanese maple, several varieties of ferns and lilies, lantana in several colors, oleander, a variety of crape myrtles, hostas, iris and a white and lavender butterfly bush. Since Joan’s home is on the Golf Course she relates that when her lawn is freshly mowed it looks like beautiful green carpet and part of the golf green.

Joan says she is thankful for living on the best street in the best neighborhood with the very best neighbors and she is so proud to be a resident of Lake Forest and the USA.