Recipients of San Saba Garden Club's August Yard of the Month are Sandra and Rick Baskin, who reside at 210 South Clear Street. Their expansive corner lot is a summer oasis of lush green grass and bursts of color from flowerbeds, yard art containers, pots, and hanging baskets.
The front lawn, a perfectly edged carpet of St. Augustine, leads to a striking fuchsia front door—perfect complement to the home’s two-toned gray exterior and white trim. Potted plants surround the porch, and baskets of moss rose are suspended from the overhang. On the north side of the home, a towering pride of Barbados waves, and massive broadleaf ferns travel along the foundation. The south side features heat-tolerant coleus, vinca, lantana, and bright yellow cannas.
Bougainvilleas are plentiful in the Baskins’ garden, with multicolored varieties potted in huge hanging baskets. An especially striking specimen appears white from a distance, but up close reveals a soft blush at its center. As it matures, the bloom develops a gentle color bleed, with pink hues spreading across the bracts and deepening to tea rose as the blossom matures. Rick and Sandra winter the bougainvillea and other delicate plants in their backyard greenhouse.
Sandra is quick to say maintaining the yard is a team effort. Rick mows, edges, and handles heavy pots; Sandra takes care of the flowers—purchasing, planting, fertilizing, and relocating ones failing to thrive. Many other responsibilities are shared.
Retirement hasn’t slowed the Baskins down. Sandra tends to their year-old granddaughter during the week, and the couple spends most weekends competing in golf tournaments in Texas and surrounding states. When time allows, their spacious covered patio provides a quiet spot for relaxing.
Sandra’s roots in Central Texas run deep. She attended Lometa schools through junior high; her family moved to Goldthwaite during her high school years. Her father was from Richland Springs, and her grandmother lived just up the street from the house on South Clear Street. As a child, Sandra often passed this very home, dreaming of living there one day. That dream came true in 2021 when she spotted a fresh For Sale sign in the yard and immediately called the realtor. She and her husband bought the house that day.
Built by Dougal Cameron around 1950, the home originally featured two of his trademark details: a corner china cabinet (still intact) and a signed inlaid cutting board (replaced during renovation). The garage has been converted into part of the master suite, a laundry room was added, and once-unused space now serves as the dining room.
The San Saba Garden Club congratulates the Baskins and extends thanks to all residents who take pride in their yards. With so many beautiful gardens in town, choosing just one winner each month is never easy—so keep growing and planting. You could be next!