The house on the right hand corner of Austin Lane doesn't match the others on its street, or others in the town.
The yard, wild and busting with greenery, seems to fight against the fence holding it in.
The silver Subaru Forester, its back covered in witty phrased bumper stickers and environmental slogans, isn't like the other cars on its street.
In passing by the house, some may assume the owners aren't the "average neighbor."
In fact, they are the people some residents say are the reason behind Herndon's environmental awareness.
They are John De Noyer and Ann Csonka.
"It will be hard to measure the impact that John and Ann will have on the community," said Harlon Reece, Town Council member, about De Noyer's recent retirement from the Town Council. "Certainly this town is indebted to them."
From the inside, their house mirrors the craziness of the lawn.
The living room is cluttered with nature brochures, snake cages holding everything from baby black rat snakes to a 13-year old python, as well as various sized wooden toads that, when rubbed with a stick, sound like the real thing.
"If you get enough people doing this," said De Noyer, 78, "it sounds like you're out at a pond."
AFTER WALKING through the house, seeing the shedded snake skins hanging from cages and plants reaching for sunlight through the windows, it's clear why past and present council members say De Noyer's love for nature is what drives him, and why he'll be greatly missed.
"He has a real love for nature," said Reece, who has known De Noyer for 10 years. "He is trying to pass on his love to the children."
Reece, who served on council with De Noyer for two terms, said in the 16 years De Noyer served on Town Council, he thinks he will be remembered the most by his work with Runnymede Park.
Mayor-elect Michael O'Reilly agreed.
"In 1988 the town was divided," said O'Reilly, who served with De Noyer for two terms. "He came in and was instrumental in keeping the park in its natural state."
O'Reilly added that De Noyer's compassion and concern for the town was undeniable, and that although he may have retired from council, he still plans to use his environmental knowledge.
"I am certain he knows how valuable his opinions have been," said O'Reilly. "I plan to utilize him."
De Noyer said he offered his services to the council upon his retirement, stating he was concerned about some of the members' environmental knowledge.
"I AM CONCERNED about the council because since I have been on it there's always been one engineer," he said.
Csonka agreed, saying, "who on the council would recognize these issues enough to ask a question?"
But O'Reilly assured that he will use De Noyer's knowledge, and said he has already deferred a storm water management issue until De Noyer can take a look at it and advise council on the best action plan.
"He's irreplaceable, we can't overcome that," said O'Reilly. "But we all bring something to the table, we're not strong in one area, we rely on staff and consultants and the support of people like John."
De Noyer says his main hope for the new council is to keep environmental issues a priority.
"I certainly offered my services to the council as long as I can do it," he said.
Connie Hutchinson, manager of the Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce visitor's center, said the more time she spent on council with De Noyer, the more she was impressed with is intelligence and overall knowledge of the environment.
"Having John on council was always very reassuring," said Hutchinson, who served with De Noyer for three terms. "I think council and staff both have come to rely on him a lot."
"We just respected John so much because of the way he conducted himself," said Reece. "He is knowledgeable in so many fields, but especially in the environment."
De Noyer said that although he plans to stay in touch with the council, he also hopes to work more on his woodwork and finishing the recent remodeling to his house.
"You can only do so much," he said.
"I think really, the passion that he brings to his work," said O'Reilly, "the depth and the breadth of his knowledge, we're really going to miss. "He's irreplaceable."