For Steve and Lynn Hummel, a beautiful yard is about more than keeping the grass green or the flower beds tidy. Their Hearthstone home reflects years of experimenting, planting, adjusting and creating spaces meant to be enjoyed — and in August, that effort earned them some well-deserved neighborhood recognition.

The Hummels have been named the Hearthstone Garden Club’s August 2026 Yard of the Month winners, and their landscaping has also achieved Yard of Fame recognition.

It is a fitting honor for a home that feels welcoming before a visitor even reaches the front door.

A Hearthstone Yard Designed in Layers

The Hummels’ front landscape makes its impression through thoughtful design rather than any one feature.

The garden beds use a tiered approach, with vinca, dwarf loropetalum, liriope, Sunshine Ligustrum and Japanese yews creating different heights, textures and shades of green. Hollies provide end caps to the beds, while a basket of vinca adds another touch of seasonal color on the right side of the home.

Together, the plantings frame the brick house and create the polished, established appearance that helped distinguish the property as one of Hearthstone’s standout yards this summer.

Lynn Hummel said Lance with Lawn Masters of Houston helps with the design and maintenance of the beds. Like many longtime landscapes, the garden has not remained static. It has evolved over the years as some plants flourished, others eventually wore out and new ideas took their place.

That gradual evolution is part of what makes an established neighborhood garden personal. It is not simply installed once and finished; it changes alongside the people who care for it.

Hearthstone August 2026 Yard of the Month Winner

Steve and Lynn Hummel of 7407 Muirfield Valley Lane

Welcoming Spaces Add Personality to the Landscape

The landscaping continues beyond the flower beds.

A sitting area to the left of the home creates an inviting place to spend time outdoors, while sage lines the driveway on the right as it leads toward the garage.

Lynn noted that the sage could use a little trimming, but with Houston-area temperatures at their summer peak, August is hardly the ideal time for aggressive pruning. For the Hearthstone Garden Club, this month was instead a time to appreciate just how attractive the landscape remains despite the heat.

Anyone approaching the Hummel home may also meet another important member of the welcoming committee: Shiner, the family dog.

Shiner greets visitors as they arrive, adding an extra bit of personality to a property already designed to feel friendly. The home even includes a small goodie bowl for delivery drivers and other visitors — another detail that reflects the hospitality behind the landscaping.

A Backyard Already Familiar to Hearthstone Garden Lovers

The Hummels’ gardening talents may already be familiar to some neighbors.

Their backyard was previously featured on the Garden Club Trail of Hearthstone, where visitors had an opportunity to see another side of the couple’s creativity. The backyard showcases Steve and Lynn’s love of fun and travel, weaving their personalities into the outdoor space rather than treating the landscape simply as decoration.

That same sense of individuality carries into the front yard recognized this month.

For residents who enjoy gardening, landscaping ideas or simply taking an evening drive through Hearthstone, Yard of the Month selections offer a chance to see how neighbors use plants, hardscaping and personal touches to enhance the character of the community.

Celebrating the People Behind Hearthstone’s Curb Appeal

Maintaining an attractive Houston landscape through the hottest part of summer takes patience, planning and plenty of care. The Hummels’ August recognition celebrates that work, but it also highlights something broader about Hearthstone: individual homeowners can play a meaningful role in the appearance and personality of an entire neighborhood.

A neatly designed garden bed, an inviting sitting area or flowers that continue blooming through August may seem like small things on their own. Together, those details help create the kind of streetscape neighbors enjoy coming home to.

For Steve and Lynn Hummel, reaching Yard of Fame status makes this month’s recognition particularly special.

Congratulations to the Hummels on being named the Hearthstone August 2026 Yard of the Month winners and on creating a home landscape that continues to give neighbors — and fellow gardeners — something worth admiring.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more Hearthstone neighborhood news, local events, resident highlights and community updates.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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