Couple transforms forested yard into Peaceful Acres
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
Pete and Teeny Williams were getting ready to retire in 1999 when they found what they considered the perfect house at Marion County Park and Lake. A sun porch overlooked the lake, and the house was "just the right size."
After they moved from Newton to 96 Lakeshore Drive approximately nine years ago, they were challenged with a large three-and-one-half acre yard full of overgrown deciduous and evergreen trees.
"We couldn't see past the back of our house," Teeny said. "There were trees all around."
Since then, the couple has worked long and hard to develop the yard into a beautiful park they've named Peaceful Acres.
Pete said at least 43 large trees were removed along with numerous small ones. In addition, he hauled in many pickups full of dirt to build a landscaped concrete drive and create numerous flower beds.
Many pounds of grass seed were sowed to develop a large expanse of lawn which slopes gently downward from the back of the house. The lawn is kept lush and green throughout most of the year with rain and irrigation.
Scattered throughout the property, some half-buried, were many rocks. These were used to outline the flower beds.
One of the more unusual aspects of the yard is a landscaped underground storm shelter. The mound of dirt covering the shelter was covered with crown vetch when the Williamses bought the property, but they added flower beds all around the perimeter to beautify the area.
Now stands of day lilies, brown-eyed susans, zinnias, phlox, and evergreen spreaders surround the cellar.
A bench situated at the top of the slanted horizontal door is the perfect place for the couple to sit and view their handiwork.
They gave names to some things in the landscape. "Resurrection Rock" was found almost buried in the ground. When Pete started to dig it out, he discovered a huge boulder embedded with fossilized seashells. Using a come-along attached to his pickup, he finally pulled the rock out of the ground.
Pete said the area once was covered by an ocean, which explains the petrified rock. It now stands as an accent in the yard. A large hole which extends through the center is planted with bright yellow marigolds. Several green hen-and-chicks plants grow in shallow niches in the rock's uneven surface.
Uncle Buck is a ceramic deer which stands in the shadow of an evergreen. Little Buck adorns the front yard.
Pete uses one rectangular bed as a garden. He grows potatoes, tomatoes, cantaloupe, and watermelons. Teeny installed a sign in the bed that proclaims, "Pete's Garden."
Hillbilly fences are situated at various spots in the yard as backdrops to plants and flowers.
The Williamses have added a beautiful wood deck to the front of their house. When a large cottonwood next to the road recently was split and destroyed by lightning, they had it removed and replaced it with a rectangular, raised brick-lined bed which features a partially-buried wagon wheel and two small fir trees.
"We sold a big, modern house in Newton to buy this," Teeny said. "We think we have the best place on the lake."
Beautifying the yard is an ongoing process for the 72-year-old Pete. While working on one project, he always has several others in mind.
"It's what keeps us going," he said.
At age 77, Teeny has survived several health problems including quadruple bypass heart surgery and two bouts of ovarian cancer.
"My philosophy is to learn from the past, enjoy the present, and plan for the future," she said.
The high-spirited woman and her energetic husband plan to keep on going and going and going, as long as possible.
