Bullock yard one of best in district

It’s a humble abode where the Bullock clan lives — a well-manicured yard with a delicate touch of love. And as the Taber Communities in Bloom Society noted, the Bullock’s lawn feels like the plushest of carpets.

Garold and Margaret Bullock are the winners of the “Best Yard” Division 2  — Under 39 Acres category of this year’s Communities in Bloom (CIB) competition within the Municipal District of Taber. The couple live just past Wal-Mart on Highway 3.

“We really enjoy it, both of us,” said Margaret, in regards to the couple’s award-winning yard and garden. Margaret added, on the sign at the gate to their driveway there’s a notation written in Latin that means, “Together We Can.” “And that’s what we’ve done, all our lives,” she said.

Garold noted the saying was on W.R. Myers High School letterhead and was the school’s motto while their children were growing up. “That’s how we always made it work,” said Garold, who has been a life-long resident of Taber, while Margaret has lived in the area for 50 years.

The Bullocks have been at the current residence (which used to be a cornfield) for 11 years, moving from a farm across the road.

“We landscaped it and made it into this beautiful acreage. When we first started it was fun but now the hips and the knees are telling us that we’re not 25 any more,” joked Margaret. Both Garold and Margaret share yard duties except for the lawn mowing which is contracted out. Garold added, upkeep of the yard takes hours every day. “That’s why we have a sale sign on the gate,” joked Garold.

Even though the yard is a handful, Margaret said it’s also been a blast and it’s good medicine too.

“You get out there and you’re picking beans. It’s just a healthy and wonderful thing to do,” she said, in regards to gardening in general at her immaculate home.

Margaret believes her current location is the best of two worlds, in that, the couple are just a mile out of town. “It’s quite quiet and private and yet close enough to town that you’re just a hop, skip and a jump to get to town.” Quiet except for perhaps the unrelenting neighbourhood rooster.

“He starts at about five in the morning and he just doesn’t stop,” joked Garold.

Communities in Bloom (CIB) reports the yard includes: Birds Nest Spruce, Miss Kim lilacs, apple trees, spruces and many other trees and shrubs. For the couple’s grandchildren there is a climbing pole, swings and a trampoline.

The yard also has table and chairs, turtle ornaments, pansies, poppies, bachelor buttons in the backyard, decorative rocks, bees, butterflies, a fire pit and a bed of strawberries.

The CIB honour is not the only win for the green thumb gardeners. “Taber used to have a fair in town and I won a prize for the most delicious strawberry,” said Margaret. Garold said his wife also won for top-notch flowers and veggies including her roses and sweet peas.

According to Garold, hail from this year’s severe weather storms destroyed many of the Bullock’s flowers and garden fruits and vegetables. “We had a beautiful garden,” he said, but for the most part it is coming back. He mentioned he was going to pull out the corn because of damage but decided to leave it in and miraculously the couple will still manage to salvage a few cobs of corn.

“Mother Nature’s the boss,” said Garold. “Yes she is,” Margaret agreed.

And Margaret bakes one heck of a batch of cookies.

Communities in Bloom is a committee that will work together with the businesses and citizens of Taber to make the town beautiful — making it a wonderful place to visit and live. Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on enhancing green spaces in communities.