402 Taft Street

Holly Server

To close out our 2024 Garden of the Month season, we have a terrific tale of two winners, three women and one street to be told in two parts.

First up, Part 1 …

When Holly Server and her husband bought their home 12 years ago at 402 Taft St., they did an entire makeover of the front yard.

Holly owns Serenity Salon LLC in Allouez, so let’s just say she knows a little something about the art of the spruce-up. She also loves to experiment with color, so you’ll see wonderful pops of it from the front porch to the curb.

She likes window boxes; hers are delightful. Artwork tucked here and there creates little garden vignettes and makes for a front yard that feels, in a word, cheerful.

The bright yellow front door ties it all together. It was her gardening neighbors across the street who suggested she paint it that color. (Hint: That’s where Part 2 of our story comes in.)

Congratulations to Holly for a yard that radiates sunshine. See the next section to meet her neighbors with a creative vision and Garden of the Month sign of their own.

401 Taft Street

Jill Johnson and Jean Rivett

As promised, here is Part 2 in our fun September Garden of the Month tale …

We’re back on Taft Street, also home to our first winner for this month, Holly Server. Right across the street, at 401 Taft, are Jill Johnson and Jean Rivett, who bought their home four years ago and have been busy transforming the outdoor space ever since.

One of the first things on their to-do list: take out the evergreen shrubs along the foundation of the 1955 house. They did it themselves, thanks to Jill’s skills with a chainsaw. She also took down two pines, but a grand old American elm remains a treasured focal point of the front yard.

Their latest update has been transforming the property line on the west side of the house by adding ornamental grasses, boxwoods, Fraser firs, hostas and a Japanese maple. Jean likes to accessorize the beds with interesting garden art she finds at thrift stores.

Jill and Jean enjoy sharing garden inspiration and tips with Holly, and vice versa. (Jill and Jean are the ones who suggested Holly paint her door bright yellow.)They’re green thumb neighbors, not in competition, but in cooperation. How fun is that?

Congratulations, Jill and Jean (and Ginger the dog). Three cheers for three great gardeners on Taft!