Williamsburg Settlement Announces May YOTM Winner

Approximately 29 years ago on Memorial Day weekend, Billy and Marsha Cooke, along with their 3 children, moved into the neighborhood. Like many others who have been nominated in the past, the two reasons why they love the Settlement are the beautiful trees and the welcoming atmosphere.

Billy, a retired civil engineer, and Marsha, an adjunct professor at Houston Community College, do all their own landscaping. According to them, their backyard is just a beautiful as their front yard and serves as a haven for them. In their spare time, when not tending to their garden, they devote their time to their church, Katy First UMC in downtown Katy.

When asked to describe their front yard they stated, “we love year-round color with low growing plants so we can see out of the windows. With 3 large water oak trees, we have had to change our plants over time. We have perennial flowers that come back year after year and surprise us with their blooming, along with multiple Agapanthus, Amaryllis plants and Day Lilies, in all different colors, mostly pastels. And a red bud tree planted in memory of a family member.”

Of all the plants in their front yard, the Cookes recommend the Giant Leopard Ligularia also known as the "tractor seat" plant. This plant is also a favorite amongs Katy gardens due to its unique foliage and the fact that it is a perennial that produce bright yellow flowers multiple times a year. The tractor seat plant also is one of the first plants that comes back quickly after a hard freeze.

We would like to thank the Cookes for being long time residents of the neighborhood and congratulate them again for being May's Yard of the Month winners.