As Alba resident Patricia Smith recalled, her husband, Galen, surveyed the tall old pine tree at the front of their property and remarked, “I think I can see a bass in there.”

What soon transpired was the removal of all but the bottom eight feet of the pine. A contract with a local woodcarver then transformed the remainder into a marvelous rendition of a leaping bass. Not just any bass, but a representation of one of Galen’s large catches.

After 12 hours of work over three days with a chainsaw and a finishing saw, the stump was reborn and now represents one of the most unique pieces of yard art in the county. For Galen, the president of the Lake Fork Anglers, it is most appropriate. 

Yard art is all around. Some folks may consider a neatly trimmed garden as yard art, others perhaps a well-built barn. There are more one-of-a-kind features in Wood County as well. 

Just north of Mineola, Charles Ambrosino explained that it was a bit of whimsy which led to the collection of birdcages hung in the crooked old branches in his front yard.

“We asked our neighbor to leave what remained of that old tree,” he explained, “and my girlfriend thought a birdcage would look nice in it.”

They were added little by little. The old branches are now adorned with a bevy of brightly-colored birdcages.

“We get a lot of positive comments from the neighbors,” he reflected.   

One does not have to come into town to see great examples of yard art. Some of the more colorful offerings can be found along the county’s many narrow back roads. 

For folks in the Yantis area, the tree, pictured here, literally full of bottles, is easily recognizable. When viewed with the sun behind them, the bottles yield a remarkably brilliant effect for anyone passing by.

There are many other examples, but the three featured here are illustrative of the creativity and beauty which folks can create for their enjoyment and the enjoyment of others.