Just beyond the boisterous and bustling sounds of children on the local elementary school playground, a “cottage home” offers a quiet serenity for the May Lions Silver Spade honorees.

Along Oak Street, the home of Kelly and Angela Buck was recently awarded the silver spade, an honor that is bestowed on exceptional landscaping during the summer season.

When the Bucks purchased the home 10 years ago, Angela said she immediately had ideas of how she wanted to transform the landscaping into something beautiful.

“My dad was a horticulturist and, having worked with him in high school, I learned a lot about plants,” she said.

After removing the old shrubs from the property, Angela said, “We wanted to create a welcoming and cozy cottage atmosphere.”

Beyond the lush green lawn, varying shapes and sizes of thriving shrubs and vegetation line the front walkway leading to a beautifully arranged alcove full of bright red and yellow blooms welcoming visitors to their front door.

A black lamppost and planter spilling over with an abundance of bright red petunias is perfectly positioned along the pathway and adds a pop of color to the front flowerbed.

Taking prominence in the flourishing front landscape, a 21-foot blue atlas cedar is surrounded by natural stone accents, nandina shrubs with beautiful bronze and orange tints, a complementary dwarf blue atlas cedar and red and yellow blanket flowers.

“Only about my height when we planted it, the blue atlas cedar has really grown through the years,” Angela said.

Inviting and beautiful, the front landscaping provides a prelude to an abundance of colors and fragrances that await in the backyard.

Just inside the gate, a tender and newly planted saucer magnolia tree, a Mother’s Day gift of Angela’s daughter, has recently found a home among the Bucks’ prolific landscaping. Nearby an asymmetrical

Nearby an asymmetrically pleasing flowerbed surrounded by natural stone border boasts a cascading water fountain amidst vibrant red dianthus and bronze tinted barberry bushes.

In full bloom, yellow rose bushes and brilliant red dianthus add a burst of color and fragrance near the large backyard patio.

A familiar theme throughout, red and yellow foliage of all sorts fill up the various flowerbeds and planters, complemented and contrasted by dark green vegetation. Boasting blue-green leaves in the spring and summer, burning bush shrubs are scattered throughout the landscaping and transform into fiery scarlet foliage in the fall.

“I just love red and yellow throughout,” Angela said.

Other colors abound as well in the landscaping and a pergola draped in cascading purple wisteria is a prominent feature of the backyard, with beautiful red roses blooming in the backdrop.

With bountiful blooms of wisteria overhead, a quaint iron patio set and terracotta chiminea welcome visitors to relax and smell the flowers.

“Wisteria was my father’s favorite,” Angela said. “He passed away a few months ago and it reminds me of him.”

The fragrant blooms also attract birds and bees to their backyard, she added.

In a corner of the backyard, a large pecan tree not only offers its shade, but an abundant supply of produce as well.

“A few years ago the tree produced over 80 pounds of shelled pecans,” Kelly said. “Even after giving a lot away, we still have plenty.”

A metal bridge wrapped in blooming yellow clematis is among the strategically positioned decorative lawn ornaments, stone benches and planters throughout the cozy and serene setting.

Angela has to find the perfect spot for each plant, Kelly said, even if that means moving it several times.

“She’s the artist,” Kelly said.

Keeping the lawn lush and neatly trimmed are Kelly’s responsibilities and, of course, providing the muscle when his wife needs a little extra help, he said.

Although the couple enjoy time spent just relaxing in the fruit of their labor, Angela said the process also gives her a chance to decompress.

“When I am working in my yard, it’s a stress reliever and something I really enjoy,” she said.