Shamrock, Texas: George Garza's Machinery Garden

George Garza created a machinery garden around his house and on his fences by recycling old pieces of farm machinery, deconstructing and reconstructing them, painting them bright colors and planting them in garden boxes with trees and bushes. He's made whimsical orange birds, a small blue car on stilts and put wheels on just about everything. He's also welded metal pieces into a gate and a mailbox stand.

He turned his first piece, a corn grinder, into a totem with cow skulls and barbed wire and it has the pride of place in the middle of his yard. He decorated his trees with cow skulls in a Georgia O'Keefe like manner and the walls of his shop with random metal bits, hanging pans and old bottles. A second totem made of bottles stands in front of his shop.

His low fences face highway 83 (right across from the gas station) and anyone coasting through Shamrock on their way to historic Route 66 should stop by George's house and check out his sculpture garden. He welcomes strangers and allows them to walk around and take pictures; but it is his private property, so ask before you walk in.