January 2026 Yard of the Month
Heather and Joe Libson
5934 Worth

When I pass the garden at 5934 Worth Street, it always makes me smile… especially in the bare-limbed, grey of January.  There is such a sense of joy and play mixed with a clear love of gardening, that it makes my heart sing. Figures of comical frogs, rabbits, and even a stately heron are nestled among the plants and around the curving footpath. Colorful pieces of blown glass art, a birdhouse, and a birdbath are interspersed around the eves, and throughout the garden.  This is the home of Heather and Joe Libson, who bought it in 2022. Joe is the dedicated gardener, but Heather’s whimsical aesthetic guides Joe’s hand in the creative choices. Their four kids also contribute to the garden’s unfolding.

Bi-coastal transplants, the Libsons came to Dallas in 2021. They had a vibrant life with their kids in New York City, but the Covid lockdown, with kids and parents all working and studying at home, with no outdoor space to use, triggered a search for a better situation.

As an IT guy working remotely, Joe was able to work from just about anywhere, so they first tried moving to a family vacation home in California, but the kids really wanted to get back to school again in-person, so they expanded their search. Ultimately, through a friend, they found their way to Dallas and fell in love with Junius Heights.

As Joe talked to me about how the garden evolved it was clear that he has the heart of a true gardener, and sees the work as a labor of love, and an act of meditation. To reclaim ground for the first section of garden, he and the kids dug out a huge tree stump, and Joe tilled the “sad patch of struggling grass” at the corner, over and over again, to prep it all for a fresh start. He rescued crape myrtle branches, originally put out for bulk pickup, to shape a border for a welcoming contemplation path.  Planted with lots of local and low-water plants, and enhanced by the fanciful yard art, the result is an absolute delight. Joe and Heather urge neighbors, kids especially, to walk the path and enjoy their garden.

Over time, Joe has added a “ziggurat” of raised garden beds for vegetables that the family harvests throughout the growing season. I noted that like many serious gardeners, he has setup a composting bed, and reclaims fallen leaves, mulching them to provide winter protection in the garden. The latest addition to their serene ambiance is a patio under shade trees, where the Libsons can enjoy their family garden.