Betty and Gary Metz
10076 Heather Lake Ct W
October’s The View, is a lovely, landscaped home in the ‘club homes’ section of Deercreek (homes on smaller lots behind the tennis courts). It was chosen for its personal touches, coordination of shrubs with their front door and a large bird of paradise in a front corner.
Betty and Gary Metz moved their business and relocated from Pittsburgh, PA to Jacksonville, in 1997. At Deercreek, they found the perfect lot in the club homes section. They rented while their club home was being built and moved into their new home that September.
They fell in love with Deercreek and though they were not really golfers at the time, they both started to golf and participate in community and club activities. Betty joined the Home and Garden Club, played bridge and was involved with the original Deercreek Women’s Alliance meetings.
When they first moved here, landscaping was a mystery, particularly since gardening in Florida is different than they knew in Pittsburgh. They took their builders’ recommendations and added a few touches. Along the way, they learned about Florida plants, and made changes over the years including adding pavers to the driveway and sidewalk, terracing the backyard, and removing most of the original plants in the front. They maintain the garden and lawn by themselves, although they say that sometimes during the hottest days it does get ahead of them.
Betty said, “When we decided to replant, we looked at our house with its reddish roof, scallop shell coquina and yellow door. We chose plants to use that bring out the colors of the house, roof and driveway while not overpowering the small lot. Ultimately, we added a weeping bottle brush tree for the color and variety.”
In closing, Betty continued, “We are very happy to be part of the Deercreek community and all it offers. We are very active in many community activities along with the Books-A-Go Go nonprofit I started in 2007.”
