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Penny Carnathan
Penny’s a Nurture And Hold (NAH): Nah, I won’t pull that out yet, it’s still got a green shoot. She likes dragonflies, lady bugs and new stuff only after weeding, pruning and fertilizing.
Kim Franke-Folstad
Kim’s a Want It Now (WIN): Everything pretty, everything now. She will resort to full-spectrum insecticides in desperate situations, and believes it’s her duty and right to buy new plants every weekend.
Both advocate Plant Choice (SOMEthing besides crotons. Please!), lots of color and low maintenance. We don’t agree on everything, but we’re smart enough to learn from each other - and from you.
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Yard Crashers, Tampa—Winners have a big Ballast Point yard, oak tree, dog poop
Posted Mar 7, 2010 by Loren Omoto
Updated Mar 7, 2010 at 10:33 PM
I’m already hearing from some of the people who had SO hoped they’d win the “Yard Crashers” landscape makeover today. They are truly disappointed.
The one family that’s not is the Iarossis of Ballast Point Boulevard. For their very long day, they’re going to get their big, empty yard transformed. This is Tom, Brooke and Isabella (on the right) in their yard. The woman on the left is part of the “Yard Crashers” team.
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Here’s what DIY Network program director Ross Babbit emailed about them tonight.
“Brooke works in medical sales. Tom is a project manager for commercial construction. Daughter is Isabella, 9 months old. Been in the house almost 5 years. Have done a lot of indoor projects, but the yard is a MESS!! Nasty grass, shed and patio in shambles. Dog poop everywhere.
“They’re fans of the show, and heard we were coming a few days ago.”
I’m really curious about what they’ll come up with for the yard, which is pretty big. It has a beautiful oak tree, and apparently a citrus tree or two. In the back, you can see a metal shed.
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Here’s another view. It’s definitely what show host Ahmed Hassan said he was looking for—something pretty bare, a blank canvas, that could produce some startling before-and-after images.
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The couple showed up at Lowe’s on South Dale Mabry at 8 this morning. I’m betting they had one long day, because when I left about 10 a.m., there was a long, long line of people, and Ahmed and the producers had promised them that someone would speak to every single one. Ross says, all totaled, 400 to 500 people came out.
Usually, the “Crashers” crew—Ahmed and the producers—find their winner in about three hours, then head to the person’s home in the afternoon. Ross said he’d let me know when they had that winner, so I could meet them at the house.
But it all took a lot longer than usual because they switched up how they usually operate. Ahmed usually pops into a home-improvement store and “ambushes” unsuspecting shoppers. As it plays on TV, he has trouble talking any of them into letting him into their yard. Definitely not the case today!
The “Yard Crashers” folks didn’t have a plan for dealing with this twist, and it seemed like they really wanted to show everyone some appreciation for showing up. They finally picked the Iarossis at about 6 p.m.—- a half-hour before I was due at Mom’s for Sunday night dinner with the clan. So, yeah, I didn’t go to the Iarossis. When Mom says “Dinner at 6:30,” she’s not fooling around.
Monday and Tuesday are planning days for the “Crashers.” Wednesday and Thursday are work days. I’m hoping to get an idea of what they plan to do on Tuesday, and I’ll visit the house Wednesday and Thursday.
That yard looks like it has lots of potential. Anyone want to guess at what they’ll put in it? And what do you want to know when I follow up with them this week?
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Reader Comments
Posted by (RickBrown) on March 08, 2010
Great story developing here, Penny. I am glad you got to meet Ahmed and that you shared how different Florida is than California where the plant pallet is so different and broad and they have good soil. This ties right in with the fact that so many people are looking for garden coaching. Send them to Cynthia…http://www.floridafriendlyplants.com/Blog/post/2010/03/07/Garden-Coaching-in-Florida.aspx
Posted by (Chip) on March 08, 2010
Congratulations to the Larossis’s it was fun to day dream about having my yard redone by a pro I guess I am not alone there…..“Chip”
Posted by (Janna) on March 08, 2010
Congrats to the lucky family - I’m really anxious to see what Ahmed does with their space! Weather-wise, they chose the perfect week to visit Tampa Bay! Looking forward to follow-up news and photos. This particular show will air in July, right?
Thanks, Rick for the link. I also wanted to tell you that your new Florida Friendly petunias that I purchased from HD last fall are SUPER performers. They are still so covered with white blooms that you can barely see any leaves. They’ve been the bright spot in my yard throughout this chilly winter!
Posted by (kgardens) on March 08, 2010
Can’t wait! Can’t wait! Can’t wait! I want to see what plants they use and the design. Penny, I am going to also want to know where they purchased their plants. I don’t have anywhere near their budget for plants, but I can break it down into more manageable chunks with a plan.
Posted by (Chip) on March 08, 2010
Penny if you plan to visit the site during a work day I would be ready to be put to work if I were you! What I would like to know is who they picked for the local landscaper/ nursery talk about bragging rights. On a different note while cleaning and pruning I found nostrums popping up in all the spots I put them last fall talk about late bloomers so keep your eyes out, not sure why but happy they finally showed up, and I keep a few alive through the freezes…..“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on March 09, 2010
stuff in containers and in pots always need a little more attention as they dry out faster. nostrums are just best left alone except in an a pot and gets bone dry. I had a few blooms then the cold hit they will come back with the weather. If I were you I would ask to be the fly on the wall in the planing part of that project just to see how they come up with it all….“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on March 10, 2010
just wait till you put a nostrum leaf on a burger! then you and your hubby will be happy….“Chip”
Posted by (Chip) on March 10, 2010
Maybe those nostrum seeds knew something none of us knew and was waiting for things to warm up before popping up. Mother nature always amazes me now if all of the seeds I planted back last fall come up I am going to be knee deep in nostrum’s oh well worse things have happened to me….“Chip”
Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 10, 2010
If Rick Brown is from the Riverview Nursury, I just wanted to say I buy most of my plants from that nursury through the HD in Riverview (Bloomingdale).
I am looking high and low for some blue porterweed…we have hummingbirds and they LOVE the porterweed. I lost all of mine in the freezes and I’m not sure whether they will come back.
I have decided that the freezes are behind us, and I have worked in the yard all afternoon putting in some new plants.
Posted by (kgardens) on March 11, 2010
Gardendipity - That’s the HD I shop at too. I have blue porterweed that is coming back from the roots. All the top part is gone, so unfortunately, I don’t have anything to take cuttings from yet. Cut yours down to the ground and dig gently around the base of your plant and I bet you’ll see some little green leaves. I’m thinking we just may be gonna’ see Spring!
Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 11, 2010
Penny, thanks for giving me Rick’s blog address. I’ll definitely be visiting his blog ASAP. I’m a big fan.
I was also thinking I might be able to find porterweed at Greenfest….but hey I love to get cuttings too! It’s very nice of you to suggest it.
Kgardens, THANK YOU for explaining about how to cut the porterweeds. I have several of them, and I will cut them back. That’s a hoot that you also shop at HD. I was there this morning picking up some bush daisies (from Rick’s nursery I think). Mine did very well through the freezes and I want to expand them throughout the yard.
Posted by (Gardendipity) on March 11, 2010
Can I ask a question about seeds here? Is it okay to plant seeds in dirt according to the instruction, and THEN put mulch on top of it? Or should I mulch first, then plant the seed in the mulch? This has always confused me. Thanks to anyone who can help!