Congratulations Kelly and Tess Barker: Yard of the Week

A great transformation has occurred at the Barker home in Payson.  

Great change has arrived at our latest Yard of the Week, the home of Kelly and Tess Barker in Payson.  Block by block, the elevated place overlooking Third South was molded anew in a herculean project undertaken from March until June of this year.  Where once grew rolling hills now holds high terraces, with xeriscaping complementing the traditional grass and gardens that have existed at the home since it was resided in by the Barkers’ parents, the late Jay and Lorraine Barker.

The transformation has been so drastic and the work intense, Tess says she lost thirty pounds along the way.  Tap into Google Earth online, she adds, and you will see the before and after shots that highlight the changes which started before the terrace project began this year.  Two small sheds were removed, while a larger shed held contents that required countless trips to haul out its refuge.  A new playground was added out back three years ago for the youngest of the Barker family and their friends to enjoy.

Despite the changes in appearance, this week’s award is not the first for the property.  Jay and Loraine, too, received the honor in the 1990s.  Years later, their children picked up the torch and maintained a tradition within the Barker family: An appreciation of home and neighborhood.  

Xeriscaping minimizes watering, at least in part.  Aesthetics are enhanced with flashes of color, be it from flowers or yard art, all along the terraces and throughout their place. A robust vegetable garden flourishes in a fenced-in zone, providing tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and the soon-to-arrive pumpkins.  The large shed which stands nearby stands as a reminder of its owner, Jay, who used it for woodworking projects, including a lifesize stagecoach awaiting its passengers. Solar powered lights illuminate it at night, calling upon evening drives past the home.

Be it day or night, be sure to drive by the Barker home, our Yard of the Week.  Congratulations to you, Barkers.