Outdoor space is couple’s pride and joy

An outdoor paradise in East Ridge is a hidden gem in Shreveport.

Mike and Sheri Mortiz, along with Sheri’s mother, have transformed a once barren yard to a budding oasis over the past two years.

The couple saw the 1950 home’s potential and completed a complete overhaul of the ground, pool and house with the help of their longtime friend and landscape architect, Donna Ford.

Ford, a former partner with Akin’s Nursery, has completed and maintained four yards for the Mortiz family.

Together, Ford and the Mortizes worked first on the overall design and began with the foundation. Akin’s Nursery planted the trees and large foundational shrubs to frame the yard.

The back of the home features a garden room equipped with electronic screens that retract with the touch of a button to bring in natural light. The afternoon sun paints a perfect scene for an evening of relaxation.

Walking out from the garden room’s French doors, the beautifully stamped concrete leads to the patio area set up with a large iron table and chairs.

Turning to the left, brick stairs take family and friends to the pool area, which has been secured for the Mortiz’s grandchildren.

The in-ground pool actually sits at a higher level than the patio and is surrounded by brick flower boxes and large pots with trees, plants and topiaries.

Since the house was built in 1950, the pool was outdated and needed renovations. Originally built with a hot tub, the Mortizes decided to fill in the hot tub and made it a shallow, baby pool for their grandchildren.

The contractor completely remodeled the pool and tile. Fred Goza, former art teacher at Byrd High School, helped pick the color of the pool tile.

“One of the best blessings is that the sun comes up the front of the house around 2:30 to 3 in the afternoon. The tall trees shade the pool so we can enjoy the pool without the hot sun,” Sheri said.

Because the house was built in 1950, there was a deteriorated wood fence surrounding the backyard when the Mortiz family purchased the home.

“We were going to put up a new wood fence, but when we removed the old fence, we saw that there was a beautiful strip of woods behind our home,” Sheri said.

Ford was standing there with the homeowners when the fence unveiled the hidden treasure behind the couple’s home.

Instead of blocking the view with another wooden fence, Ford and Sheri opted to incorporate the wooden backdrop in the architectural plant design of the backyard. Little Joe’s Welding put up a gorgeous iron fence and gate for both security and a splash of design. Brick column gate supports are an added touch.

It is said that “good fences make good neighbors,” and the Mortiz family has done just that. Instead of the traditional fence surrounding their yard, a wall of greenery and flowers serves as a beautiful divider of friendship between neighboring houses.

To the right of the patio, a barbecue area is set up with plenty of room to entertain and host family gatherings. The Mortizes found the outdoor kitchen at the Home Design Center on Fern Loop in Shreveport. A bar counter height gas grill and refrigerator complete this outdoor escape.

Seasonal colored ground flowerbeds completely surround the yard.

Sheri describes her flowerbeds as “riotous with color and levels.”

One of her many favorites are the gardenia bushes that get that wonderfully intoxicating smell in July. Another favorite is the Salmon Drift roses in her flowerboxes. This miniature fragrant rose begins the first little buds as a bright salmon color and blooms into a soft pastel.

Large flowerboxes have Sweet Olive evergreen shrubs that get an insignificant bloom but produce a sweet fragrant smell when you pass the back door.

Large metal trellises embellished with large white and purple Clematis burst open almost like a starburst.

Walking around the back of the pool, there are large African Irises and an oldfashioned plant called Cleome. Large holly bushes that look like year-round Christmas trees frame the back of the yard.

“We started with the foundational Holly bushes, boxwoods and smaller topiaries and then built the beds from there,” Sheri said.

As interesting added bonuses in the grass area, the Mortizes have gardens flourishing in ordinary fish tanks. Sheri said she saw an article in Southern Living where people converted fish tanks to garden tubs, and she decided to give it a try. The couple grows vegetables and cooking herbs in their outdoor fish tanks.

Recently featured in the Natural Garden Tour, guests were really interested in the fish tank garden tubs, and Sheri said it is something that anyone can do with a small yard. Their grandchildren love to pick vegetables out of the garden. Mike Mortiz has worked hard to make sure that everything in their backyard, the potted plants, flowerboxes and ground beds, are all sprinkler connected and watered automatically.

Vendors:

Driveway, patio stamped concrete and retractable sunshades Terry Shields, Surface Solutions

Pool and decking True Blue Pools

Interior decorator and selected the pool colors Fred Goza

Landscape architect Donna Ford