September Yard of the Month

331 SE 7th Way

Tressa van Rij moved to 331 SE 7th Way in Canby from the Beavercreek area about ten years ago. The move was a new chapter in her life that she wasn’t particularly looking forward to. Tressa had lost her husband of 45 years two years before the move and adjusting to a new and different life had been difficult for her. The new house needed her touch though and through the years it has evolved into a well thought out design that includes a private outdoor retreat that anyone would find comfortable and relaxing.

She began her outdoor design by removing most of the prior landscape and replanting with her ideas. She developed a love of all things hydrangea, and has several varieties around her garden. Tressa continued to fill the yard with flowers that she liked, experimenting with what works and what doesn’t, removing eyesores with care and planning.

Tressa likes to show her creative side and told me about a fountain she had put together that bubbles and is close to her front door. It’s made from a cylinder style pot her husband picked up somewhere, and a grinding wheel that she found that “just happened to fit”. She poured cement into a round sphere shape with a pipe placed in the middle and made the perfect bubble fountain. Tressa’s gardens show her care, intuitiveness, creativity and hands-on designs. She also created a separate outdoor space perfect for afternoon tea and her four-legged companion, plus a friend.

Tressa added that she’s very flattered when people drive by and stop to admire her garden. She especially likes to give plant starts so others will also create their own gardens.

August Yard of the Month

634 NW 2nd Ave

From homeowners Brian & Crystal Ayres

We moved to Canby in 2002. We chose this place due to the large porch with overhang. The front and backyard was mostly grass with a few small generic shrubs. The yard has gone through several iterations over the years. In 2016 we started over and removed the grass in the front yard. In 2019 we removed the grass in the backyard. We added the stones in the front yard in 2024 to give it a bit of structure and flow. We have more plans and continue to build the oasis in front of the post office.

We love unique, interesting, and beautiful things in the garden. We wait every year in anticipation for the garden fair. We love to go to Margie’s Farm & Garden to replenish our annuals and find new perennials.The yard has been a fun project for the family over the years. We love to spend time out in the garden looking at the blooms, watching the bumblebees, and hummingbirds.

Feel free to stop and say hello if we are out enjoying the garden when you pass by.

July Yard of the Month

1233 NE 15th Ave

From Homeowners Christine and John Mcafee

My husband and I built our home 19 years ago having owned the lot for 10 years before that. Our daughter and her family have lived here for 29+ years, we fell in love with the area deciding it would be a nice place to retire. I designed the yard choosing plant matter and placement, in the 19 years we have lived here the yard has changed dramatically. We have removed most of the lawn, pavers and garden beds have been added, plant matter has also changed over the years. My desire is to have mostly perenials and reserve certain spots for annuals, we also strive to have different varieties of plants blooming from early spring into fall.

My parents were both avid gardeners, my mother was in charge of our vegetable and berry garden, my father was in charge of flowers, we spent a great deal of time in our yard growing up in Portland, the flowers added such beauty and such pleasure for us all to enjoy our parents efforts and hard work. This passion came to me naturally, there is nothing I love more than being in my yard, regardless of the task, my husband works part time, but when he isn’t working he enjoys working in the yard too.

Many thanks to Canby Garden Club for honoring our yard for the month of July, there are many beautiful yards in this beautiful little town of Canby, we are very proud to have been selected.

June Yard of the Month

388 SE 14th Ave

From homeowner Susan McCants:

I retired to Canby 10 years ago.  Gardening has always been a passion and now I can garden full time.  I enjoy having different seasons.  Each season presents enjoyable plants and blooms. I try to time it so there is always something blooming.

The previous owners of my home planted a 12 bush rose garden.  It has been my pleasure to take care of them and help them flourish. Roses and hydrangeas are my favorites.  It is fortunate I settled in Canby, “The Garden Spot.”

Gardening is a joy and even pulling weeds is fun as long as I am outside digging in the earth.

I am so honored to be selected by the Canby Garden Club as the featured yard for June. There are so many beautiful gardens in Canby.  I feel very lucky to be chosen.  Thank you