Joy Donovan

Joy Donovan is a contributing writer for CandysDirt.com covering the Midcities and Fort Worth.

Hollywood Santa Monica’s 32nd Home Tour Opens Doors to Six Tudor Cottages

By Joy Donovan / April 14, 2026 /

Realtor Anne Tudhope knows a good neighborhood when she sees it. One of her favorites is the historic East Dallas neighborhood of Hollywood Santa Monica, where the tree-lined streets are known for their 1920s and 1930s Tudor cottages, Craftsman bungalows, and midcentury traditional homes. It’s her job to know the city’s best residential areas, but…

This Fairmount Craftsman Bungalow Is Both Lovely and Lavender

By Joy Donovan / April 10, 2026 /

As a CandysDirt.com writer, I have been known to write more than once about the glorious white houses. As a homeowner, I also have been known to paint houses white — two so far. Why? They’re crisp and clean. They stand out from the landscape. They glow in the summer sun. They gleam at dusk.…

Historic Fort Worth to Honor Preservationist at 22nd Annual Hidden Gardens Tour

By Joy Donovan / April 7, 2026 /

Historic Fort Worth has named Brent Rowan Hyder as the honoree for the organization’s 22nd annual Hidden Gardens Tour, planned for May 15 and 17. During the always-anticipated Hidden Gardens Tour, five private landscapes will be on view, offering the public a rare, rain-or-shine look inside some of Fort Worth’s most unique home gardens. Exactly…

Arlington Home Shines Within Walking Distance to Interlochen’s Holiday Sparkle

By Joy Donovan / April 3, 2026 /

The red brick traditional at 3105 Westwood Dr in Arlington is near the action, but not in the hot middle of the frenzy. Yes, this one-story residence is in the Westwood subdivision, a walkable distance to the Interlochen neighborhood, the one known for its Christmas lights. Lighting up the neighborhood, a decades-long holiday tradition, draws…

This Southlake Garden Tour Only Blooms Every Other Year — and It’s Back May 17

By Joy Donovan / March 31, 2026 /

Anyone who loves to garden might find North Texas is a place with its, ahem, challenges. “I’ve gardened everywhere, and Texas is the hardest place to garden,” said master gardener Sian Rees. A native of Toronto, Canada, she has also lived in other states and found gardening more than a little easier elsewhere. The situation,…