JHHD April 2026 Yard of the Month

5802 Worth Street

Amanda Wiltz & Vicente Martinez

On the corner of Worth and Fulton—just across from Lipscomb Elementary—you’ll find a tidy and welcoming brick home that feels right at home in our historic neighborhood. Though it’s a newer build, Amanda and Vicente have used their gardening skills to give it the kind of charm and personality that fits Junius Heights beautifully.

Out front, the flower beds are filled with mostly native Texas plants, dotted with cheerful pops of color from potted petunias. The Knockout roses were already in place when they arrived, but they’ve added their own touches — salvias, hardy hibiscus, Mexican plums and a couple varieties of magnolia among them.

Take a stroll along the side yard and you’ll discover a true showstopper: a fragrant rose garden bursting with color, alongside seasonal Texas favorites like blanket flower, asters, and even more varieties of salvias. Along the alley, a striking collection of succulents—agaves, cacti, spirea, Dessert Willow, and more—creates a landscape that’s both beautiful and practical. These creative plantings cleverly solve the challenge of fencing restrictions in the historic district.

And there’s more to explore. Inside the fenced yard, a cozy patio invites you in, surrounded by an herb garden, and pots of bright geraniums. “My mom says seven different colors of geraniums bring good luck,” Vicente shares—and they’ve made sure to oblige. Overhead, an old and stately crape myrtle keeps watch.

Family roots are planted here too. Amanda’s mom contributed the elegant irises scattered throughout the yard, while Vicente’s mom provided the vibrant canna lilies—making the garden a true reflection of home and heritage.

Amanda and Vicente moved to Junius Heights in July 2021 from Oakland, California, where they met, though both are Texas natives—Vicente from El Paso, and Amanda from right here in Dallas. When they arrived, the yard was, in Amanda’s words, “basic boring shrubs.” But thanks in part to the infamous February ’21 freeze (aka “Snowmageddon”), they had the perfect opportunity to start fresh.

With a vision for a colorful, resilient landscape, they focused on native plants that can handle Texas extremes while also supporting pollinators, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Amanda did her homework—leaning on resources like the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Texas Discovery Gardens—and the two of them enjoy picking out plants together, especially at the Texas Discovery Garden seasonal plant sales.

Amanda plans the garden, Vicente brings it to life, and together they’ve created a space that’s vibrant, welcoming, and ever-evolving.

As Amanda puts it, “Gardening is a nice way to meet our neighbors.” And we’re certainly glad they did. ?