240 Lazarre Avenue

Darryl and Judy Johnson

Where to even begin when it comes to Darryl and Judy Johnson’s gardens …

If you’ve ever passed by their property at 240 Lazarre Ave. or been lucky enough to attend one of the many community events they have hosted there, you know it’s a marvel. They’ve been honored as Garden of the Month three times in their more than three decades at the house, and, after 14 years between awards, we’re thrilled to tip our hats to them once again as our July Garden of the Month winners.

They’ve transformed the corner lot they bought in 1994 into a stunner filled with hundreds of perennials. There’s glorious color from every angle — butterfly weed, liatris, balloon flower, roses, clematis, bee balm, lilies, hostas — and one view is prettier than the next.

In between the sweeping beds are curved paths, water features and a fairy garden. Garden art is tucked all around. The dozens of charming birdhouses are the work of Darryl, who paints them as his winter hobby.

Not surprising, the Johnsons have been featured on many a garden walk. They spend about four hours tending to their paradise each day, frequently sharing plants with other gardeners and sometimes with strangers just walking by to take it all in.

Please join us in congratulating Darryl and Judy on 32 years of extraordinary gardening and for creating Allouez’s very own version of an enduring and endearing botanical garden!

516 E. Briar Lane

Jacob Montalban

And now for our second July Garden of the Month winner …

In the three years since Jacob Montalban purchased his house, he has wasted no time adding gardens at . A lover of lilies and clematis, you’ll find plenty of each among the mix of colorful plantings on his property. Not just a gardener during the outdoor growing season, he also overwinters plants. The tubers of his big begonias in pots get dug up and brought in the house to be replanted again next season. The oxalis also gets invited in, staying in containers and then going back out in the spring.

As much as Jacob has done in the front yard, he has been busy in the back, too, creating a beautiful “work in progress” with perennials, annuals and garden art.

Congratulations, Jacob. We think you’ve got this whole curb appeal thing down. We can’t wait to see what the next three years bring!