The Fannie Marchman Garden Club has selected the Vasselli home as its July Yard of the Month.
John and Susan Vasselli share a commitment to conserving one of Texas’ most precious natural resources — water.
In 2020, they found their home in the Lake Brenda community at 1310 County Road 2425 in Mineola and were immediately captivated by the stunning view of the lake from the back of the house. The property also included two ponds, and when Susan saw the ample space for a garden, she quickly envisioned what it could become.
While finalizing floor plan changes and updating the interior of their new home, the couple began transforming the landscape with Texas native and other drought-tolerant plants. Dwarf yaupon now circles the shade of a large sweetgum tree, while Asiatic jasmine spreads near the porch. John says Susan selected the plants for her design and that he “just dug the holes,” although he continues to handle much of the yard maintenance — when he’s not tending to his tomato plants.
Having relied on a rainwater storage tank while living in the Texas Hill Country, Susan understands the importance of rainwater harvesting. She is now connecting the home’s gutters to rain barrels to ensure that not a drop of rainfall goes to waste.
John, a retired engineer, is also helping address the Lake Brenda community’s need for dam improvements by writing a grant proposal that could provide funding for the project. He notes that many people are unaware Texas generally requires permits before water can be withdrawn from a lake, making the preservation of Lake Brenda especially important to its residents.
The Vassellis enjoy relaxing on their shaded front porch, surrounded by hanging baskets and potted succulents, including elephant bush, variegated ice plant, portulaca, hoya, jade plant, crown of thorns and Moses-in-the-Cradle, to name just a few.
Their backyard overflows with fascinating cactus specimens, some so rare and exotic they appear almost otherworldly. The plumerias lining both the front and back of the property hold a special place in Susan’s heart because their sweet fragrance reminds her of her mother, who also grew them.
In just three months, the Vassellis created a new front-yard garden bed designed to attract pollinators while showcasing a variety of leaf shapes and textures. The carefully selected plants are well suited to withstand extremes of heat, cold and drought. Lavender, stonecrop, echinacea, yarrow, salvia, Russian sage, gaura, yuccas and coreopsis are complemented by weathered juniper trunks and large natural stones, which also cleverly conceal whimsical dragonfly yard art.
John and Susan say their grandchildren especially enjoy playing a game to see who can spot the most dragonflies hidden throughout the landscape. Crafted from shiny metal, rusted iron, stone and ceramic, the dragonflies appear around nearly every corner as a playful tribute to Susan’s fondness for them. Their presence also serves as a reminder that many conservationists are concerned about declining dragonfly populations due to habitat loss and the effects of a changing climate.
Gardening isn’t Susan’s only creative outlet. She also designs and creates distinctive jewelry, with many pieces featuring Southwestern motifs, dragonflies or a combination of the two.