Even though it’s her second beautification award, Betty Sera isn’t taking it for granted.
‘I was thrilled,? said the Oxford Village resident who lives at 450 Lakes Edge Drive. ‘What an honor. All the well-maintained homes in Oxford and they took notice of my efforts.?
Sera’s home was one of six residences, two businesses and one municipal office recognized last week with awards from the Oxford Beautification Commission (see box).
A total of 61 village properties were nominated as part of the 13th Annual Beautification Awards program, according to Commission Chair Joe Bullen. Winners were selected for their properties? aesthetic contributions ? landscaping, upkeep, repairs, etc. ? toward improving the village’s overall appearance.
The purpose of the awards program is for neighbors to encourage neighbors by setting an example when it comes to maintaining, enhancing and beautifying their properties
Surrounded by colorful English Gardens she lovingly and carefully planted and re-planted over the last 28 years, Sera’s lakefront home is a showcase of natural splendor.
‘I did it all by myself,? she said, ‘I placed each rock, planted each flower.?
Sera estimated her property contains roughly 10,000 bulbs from various perennial plants and flowers. ‘If you X-rayed my ground, every square inch would have bulbs,? she said. ‘I don’t think you could dig any place without finding a bulb.?
Due to the large quantity and diverse variety of flowers surrounding her home, Sera said ‘there’s something in bloom constantly? from spring through fall.
‘I love my spring garden the most because I just love spring,? she said.
Sera’s love of gardening appears to be a trait she inherited from her mother, who lives in Tennessee and still gardens at the age of 86. ‘Between us, my mother and I have probably planted every single flower there is,? she said.
For Sera, gardening is a ‘wonderous,? almost spiritual experience.
‘When you plant a bulb in the fall, it’s kind of an act of faith, isn’t it? You believe that in the spring it’s going to come up and turn into a flower.?
If Sera’s flowers are the painting, then the well-manicured lawn that surrounds and defines her extraordinary gardens is the frame. Sera credits her husband, Louis, for all the hard work he does maintaining, cutting and edging their lush green lawn.
‘It really makes a difference in how the flower beds look,? she said. ‘If he hasn’t edged, it just doesn’t look the same.?
‘He does a real nice job. He loves working in the yard like I do.?
But it’s not just homeowners like the Seras who take great pride in their property’s appearance.
For Beautification Award winner Mark Young, owner of Mark A. Young Jewelers in downtown Oxford, enhancing his 31 N. Washington Street’s storefront is about giving his customers the proper first impression.
‘That’s my initial impression out there on the street,? said Young, who’s owned the building since 1999. ‘That is my calling card. And if I’m cutting corners out there, then a thinking person is going to realize I’m probably cutting corners somewhere else. When it comes to jewelry, you can’t do that.?
‘You always want to put your best foot forward . . . In my business, customers expect a little more.?
Before he began reconstructing his store’s facade approximately three years ago, Young said he went down to the Northeast Oakland Historical Society’s museum and looked at photographs of what his building used to look like. ‘I think the earliest photo was like 1904 and the building was built in 1896.?
‘I wanted to try to keep that old architecture, but update it a little bit,? said Young, who called his storefront a blend of classic and modern styles.
Young said he gets a lot of compliments on his store’s appearance. ‘They absolutely love it. I’ve heard people say this belongs in Birmingham.?
‘I actually think it’s spurred a few other business owners to revaluate (their property’s appearance),? said Young, who likened it to planting a ‘seed? that encourages others to ‘invest? in their properties and help the downtown grow.
All the Beautification Award winners will be presented professional photographs of their properties ? courtesy of Johnston Photography ? mounted on plaques at a special ceremony in October.