Yard art a chance to express yourself

From bird baths and gargoyles to flower pots and a dinosaur, yard art comes in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The dinosaur is stalking a moose and an elk in Fred Schritt's yard at 2316 Park Drive. The massive creature, which weighs in at 8,000 pounds, is sculpted out of concrete.

The large lizard was built at Schritt's business, GI Body Shop, and was taken to his home by tow truck about three years ago.

Schritt's other creatures, including moose, elk, a grizzly bear and Bigfoot, were made in a similar manner and weigh around 2,000 pounds.

Initially he wanted the yard art he began creating in 1991 to reflect wildlife in Colorado. He added the dinosaur after children who visited requested it.

"It's my hobby," he said. "It's a fun topic. My yard's full now. It's too hard to mow around them."

When it comes to decorating a yard, not everyone has the space -- or the desire -- for a dinosaur. However, other statutes, bird baths and water fountains are popular.

Debbie Lantz, who owns Concrete Critters with her husband John, said they sell "everything from A to Z, alligators to zebras."

Their water fountains, bird baths, benches and flower pot planters are all big draws as well. Many people like the fountains because they require less maintenance than a pond, she said.

Lantz said she can't drive down a block in Grand Island and not see two or three of Concrete Critters' items in front yards, backyards and gardens.

In addition to the stock items, Lantz and her husband can add a personal touch to the things they sell.

"People are always crazy about their dogs," she said. "They'll bring me a photo and I'll paint a statute to match their dog."

Angel statutes are also popular and Concrete Critters carries a number of different designs, she said.

The store offers items in a variety of shapes and sizes for a variety of budgets. Some things cost as little as $2, while others are closer to $1,000, she said.

Sundance Feed and Seed also offers various yard art and decorations.

Kristina Vlcek, the store's landscape designer, said concrete and resin gargoyle and dragon statutes are some of the newest items at the store.

"They're pretty cool," she said.

There are also copper ducks, concrete or resin fountains, bubbling rocks that nestle into the ground and a solar-powered bird bath with a fountain, she said.

Sundance has items for small, medium and large yards. In fact, a 12-foot-tall fountain is available at the store, she said.

Natural stone for in-ground sculptures and landscaping are also sold at Sundance, she said.

When it comes to decorating the outside of a house, Sundance has a wide variety of wind chimes, including an enormous one that hangs in the store's gift barn, she said.