By RICHARD VIRGILIO
Some people take you behind velvet ropes. This Independence Day, I take you behind your neighbors homes and into two very private, fabulous backyards in Asbury Park.
The lush green backyard with the custom cedar deck and furniture belongs to two guys who I have given the moniker the hottest couple in Asbury. For me, the homeowners do not really have names I easily call them Hottest Couple, and everyone I know, knows whom I am referring to. Both guys in this delicious duo are so hot they do not need to have a point to their conversation; however, they always do. I think.
If their yard looked like Sanford & Sons backyard, I would have used this column to get to talk with them.
Oh, ummm, OK, Hottest Couples yard it is lushly green with amazing textures, strategically pesticide-free and planned beautifully, making maximum use of the sun, shade and property.
They have worked on their backyard for almost four years – a lot of the time shirtless. Hottest Couple tore out every weed, tree stump, tire, and dishwasher that was abandoned in the yard when they bought the home and created their own personal Asbury Park backyard renaissance.
Walking around the gorgeous grounds you will find pink peonies on the cusp of bloom, magnolia trees, Maiden grass, Russian Sage, verdant Rosemary, white carpet roses, a number of luscious lilac bushes, native vines, wild and Japanese honeysuckle, Dutchmans Pipe, Wisteria and many more cubic yards of fabulous foliage.
This yard is so brilliant the cherry trees even had a Manhattan address. They trucked the trees to Asbury Park from a New York City friend who had an overflowing rooftop garden. There is also a great vintage Murray childs toy tractor that I love.
Hottest Couples secret to blooms the size of grapefruit? TerraCycle fertilizer it is made from worm poop, literally. No chemicals and completely organic.
The second yard, with the pool, belongs to my BFF - Best Friend Forever for those not familiar with cell phone texting lingo. It looks like I snagged this photo from the Restoration Hardware catalog. I did not.
BFF moved down here one year ago and has improved on the perfection the former owner sowed, making what seemed unimproveable even more brilliant. Everything in the yard, from the old pear tree to the new holly bushes is impeccably manicured.
One of my many favorite components of the yard is how the garage was designed to meld with the property and look like a pool house. Quoting Frank Lloyd Wright, the garage is of the land, not on it.
So wonderfully thought out.
There are more than a few people with a green thumb around Asbury Park. I am not one of them, however, I am ready for my training from Hottest Couple. NASA can put a man on the moon, however I cannot grow grass in sandy soil, in the shade. Ug.
The makeovers many neighbors have completed on their yards from Sewall to Sunset Avenues would make Martha Stewart proud.
By the way, I am loving the lounge chair and tote in Hottest Couples yard. Both are made with absolutely gorgeous, vibrant French canvas and the chairs have unfinished birch frames that age wonderfully over time. Even beyond your backyard, they are a way fabulous and sexy beach accessory. QuelObjet.com has more info.
Tell me or ask me something interesting neat gossip, fun questions, great upcoming events. Anything about you and our city. Email me ASAP at TheBPlot@yahoo.com. Include your phone number.
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