Just inside Stonebrook addition, a residence on Kingfisher’s west side has been honored for its exceptional landscaping and beautiful outdoor decor.

The home of Scott and Angie Ulsaker was selected for the August Silver Spade award and deservedly displays the honor among an array of multi-colored ornamental plants, shrubs and trees in its front flowerbed.

The award is presented by the Kingfisher Lions Club during the summer months to different homes with outstanding landscaping and beauty.

Residents of Kingfisher County for 27 years, the Ulsakers have lived at their current residence for six years and said they love the neighborhood.

Married for 33 years in September, they have three grown children: Reagan, Danielle and Seth. A fourth, Stefan, passed away when he was 18.

They also have six grandchildren. Working his entire career in the telecommunications field, Scott has been employed with Pioneer Telephone Cooperative for 35 years, as well as a number of years with other companies. Angie has spent her career in marketing and business management at various companies and currently is employed with the Kingfisher County Assessor’s Office.

The Ulsakers also opened and operated a Fox’s Pizza Den franchise in Kingfisher for five years during the early 2000s.

Their gray and red brick home is encircled with generous flowerbeds filled with all sizes, shapes and varieties of plant life.

Along a winding pathway to the front entrance, generous flowerbeds host blue-green spruce trees of varying heights, neatly trimmed shrubs, ornamental grasses with feathery white plumes surrounded by vibrantly pink dianthus and petunias.

Large landscaping rocks form a natural contrast to the colorful foliage and flowers. A prominent upright rock formation with channels cut throughout has special meaning to the Ulsakers. It was a gift from Angie’s father and the channels in the rock were created by the water current of a river, Angie said.

“At our previous residence, a water fountain flowed through it,” Angie said, “and the rock has traveled with us when we move, in memory of my father.”

Nearby, a large purple gazing ball adds a pop of color to the front flowerbed and also has sentimental value for the Ulsakers. It was a gift given to Angie in memory of her sister, she said.

Another tribute to her sister, a rose bush which produces fragrant peach-colored roses grows in the fertile soil close by.

Heirloom purple, chocolate, yellow and peach iris plants produce bountiful blooms in early spring, along with vibrant yellow daffodils contrasting against the home’s multi-hued brick exterior.

Near the front entrance, naked ladies plants produce light-pink flowers with virtually no foliage and have special significance, because they were her grandmother’s, Angie said.

Yellow day lilies, purple salvia and a spirea flowering shrub thrive just inside the winding stone border as it curves around the corner of the home.

Along the north side, evenly spaced hydrangeas, a climbing hyacinth bean vine, deep orange marigolds and a bright pink flowering crepe myrtle are flourishing.

The crepe myrtle was “just a little sprout” a few years ago when they decided to transplant it from the front flowerbed, Scott said.

They like to incorporate plants that appeal to them and they enjoy, Angie said.

“There is really no rhyme or reason,” she said. “We just plant what we like.”

A large patio extends from the back of the home and is filled with various inviting patio furniture, a wooden porch swing, an impressive stone fire pit and an assortment of potted plants.

Scott crafted the round stone portion of the fire pit, as well as two long rectangular wooden planters which are home to an assortment of tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, watermelon and other vegetables.

An arrangement on a patio side table boasts a cascading wandering jew plant with purple-striped leaves, white licorice, and a purple velvet plant which displays a soft velvety texture with its purple-tinted leaves.

Originally from Connecticut, Angie said, “the purple velvet hung everywhere when I lived there.”

Other planters filled with various cascading ornamental plants are crafted from repurposed bee hives. The Ulsakers’ daughter, Reagan, co-owns a greenhouse with two other partners in western Oklahoma and the bee hive planters, as well as many of the plants, are products of their business.

Magnolia trees, purple salvia, lavender, hibiscus, day lilies and other vibrant and thriving ornamental plants grace the backyard and south flowerbed.

Maybe the most stunning is the westward view from their patio, where lush green grass slopes down to a shimmering pond, as geese and other wildlife wander along the edge.

They really enjoy time spent together on the patio overlooking the water and watching the wildlife, Scott said.

“It is a great neighborhood,” he said. “It’s like we are living in the country.”

Angie agreed and added, “It is so quiet and private, and we have a beautiful wide view over the water.”