Muleshoe’s annual Relay for Life was held Friday, June 6th at the Bailey County Coliseum. I attended last year (see “Muleshoe Does Relay for Life,” June 12, 2013”) but chose to support the fight against cancer this year by purchasing a ticket to the yard tour organized by the Muleshoe Calvary Baptist Church. And I was glad I did. The weather was mild for outdoor activity, the recent rains had done their part to invigorate the lawns and plants, mosquitoes had been sprayed, and the yards were lovely. The first stop was the home of Bob and Billie Graves. The back yard was the neat and tidy, green and manicured. And so was the area behind the back fence.

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Next stop was the back yard of Marshall and Helen Cook. Larkspur and other flowering plants gave this yard more of an English garden feel to me. And then when walking through the back gate to the alley, you find a rock garden planted in xeriscape fashion! Quite a contrast.

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The focal point of Kenneth and Darlene Henry’s back yard was this pair of lovely old trees holding the grandkids’ play deck and shading a lovely little playhouse. The area behind the fence next to the alley was manicured as well.

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Next was Paul and Judy Wilbanks’ backyard, whhich had a large patio/pergola party/visiting area complimented with a large goldfish pool and waterfall.

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Chase Garlington’s front yard was on display for the tour, with lots of interesting yard art surrounded by larkspur, lamb’s ear and a variety of other flowering plants. Chase’s use of wrought iron cemetery fencing was especially effective.

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The last yard on the tour was the back yard of Chris and Adena Johnson. This yard also made use of interesting yard art, but its crowning glory was the huge fruitless mulberry tree in the center of everything.

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These homeowners obviously put an amazing amount of time and effort into making their yards showplaces, and were willing to share them with us. If you didn’t go this year, I suspect there will be another yard tour next year. I recommend you plan on going.