Bullhook Blossoms features Chinook yard

Story and photos from Marilyn Granell

Bullhook Blossoms Garden Club

We are headed east of Havre to Chinook for this week's Bullhook Blossoms Yard of the Week. Congratulations to Anjanett Hawk, 728 Illinois Street, on her stunning yard.

My sister and I call it the "sitting yard!" We drive by and admire it several times each summer. On the grassy boulevard, there are three lawn chairs with two log stump tables that are frequently used by locals taking their daily walks. It is a lovely spot for catching your breath.

An invitation into the yard is through a honeysuckle covered arbor with a hanging petunia basket flanked by the American flag. The focal point of the yard is a tall, modern, 1,000 pound fountain. The fountain also serves as dog water bowl for dog walkers strolling by. Anjanett has had the fountain for over 20 years and it has made several moves with her, just like a family member!

Another colorful, artsy feature is the rock-lined flower bed filled with daisies, sweet rocket, marigolds, petunias, autumn joy sedum, and a variety of herbs. The curvy border is made from smooth river rock from the Yellowstone River interspersed with a variety of field rock that Anjanett has gathered from various job sites around the country. The flower bed compliments the house's purple, periwinkle, and yellow awning as well as an inviting conversation area. On the right side of the yard you are welcome to have a seat in one of the vintage goldenrod metal chairs next to a huge basket of bright pink petunias. It is a lovely place to have a glass of iced tea or summer rosé!

The front flower beds have hostas and a stunning yellow perennial flower that has traveled from yard to yard with Anjanett. The side yard to the south is lined with cheerful sunflowers and an old cedar fence with lawn in between. She hosts Ladies Night Out on the Lawn Party, a summer dinner party in this area. Oh, such fun, ladies! The north side yard is bricked with two foot by two foot charcoal pavers and surrounded with bamboo fencing. What a great place for the grill, fire pit table and eating area. I can feel the warmth of the firepit and taste the yummy s'mores on a fall evening.

A very unique feature of the yard is the fence. One of Anjanett's jobs is working on a fencing crew. Before the crew appears with the skidsteer to tear out the old fence, she heads to the job site a couple days early to roll up the old barbed wire and to savage any reusable cedar rails and posts. Her yard fence is made from the recycled cedar, part of which is from the U.S.-Canada border fence. Now that's a quite a yard conversation piece.