Shannon and Kyle McBroom call their back yard a hodgepodge, but really it is a very ordered oasis which has been named Yard of the Month for July by the Gallatin Garden Club.
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The McBroom’s back lawn at 812 S. Prospect is surrounded by 50 lilac bushes which makes a natural privacy fence with enough space between a couple of the bushes to allow entrance for yard work.
They have lived there since 1990 and all but a maple tree and four bushes have been added in the 25 years.
Shannon and Kyle McBroom with granddaughter Shelby and son Derrick. Shelby has been on the “stage” of the pergola playing games and dancing this summer. Derrick helps keep the lawn mowed.
Inside the fence you will find everything from geraniums and roses to a butterfly bush and a contorted filbert tree.
“If we see it and like it we buy it and we find a spot for it,” said Shannon. “I had been to a craft show and Kyle asked me what I bought. I said a rock. We laughed about that. But it turned out to be a very unique rock and is now the bed for a chick-and-hens.”
“We stop at nurseries and look for unusual things, discounted, close-outs or end-of-year things,” said Kyle.
A large fish pond and pergola is the center of attention in the yard. The pool was added recently, after Kyle’s mother Mildred passed away in August of 2012. Mildred had Koi fish which the family wanted to keep going. Building the pool as a tribute to Mildred became a family project. They did it together and by themselves.
Grasses, water lilies and lotus act as natural water filters in the pond. The pool is lined by rock and pebble and complimented by various ground-cover plants, including Russian sage. The colorful Koi fish grow up to 24 inches.
The pergola is finished except for needing the wood stained and Kyle said he plans to cover the tops and edges of the water filtration system.
Shannon takes care of the plants and the landscaping. Kyle takes care of the fish and water plants.
“Almost everything has a story,” said Shannon.
The bald cypress, for instance, came from Arkansas. A shell came from their vacation scuba diving in the Bahamas. Shannon is a kindergarten teacher at Searcy Elementary and her students made some of the planter boxes.
“We like our memories and our yard is a tribute,” said Shannon. “My memories of the farm where I grew up are here and so are Kyle’s memories of his mother.”
“We are project people, more than sit down and relax people,” said Kyle. “We always have something going.”