Terry Heasley of Saxonburg has turned her hedges into lawn art.

SAXONBURG — The hare is in the lead in his race against the tortoise.

Saxonburg resident Terry Heasley has the match shaped up in her front yard.

“You can go online and buy wire forms for people who aren’t creative and just stick it over a shrub and, as the shrub grows, they can cut off parts until finally it has the shape,” said Heasley, 62.

“Nobody else can have one of these because they are unique.”

Since 2002, Heasley has carved shrubs at her house into animals, which is called topiary, the practice or art of training, cutting and trimming trees or shrubs into interesting or ornamental shapes.

Giant cats, turkeys, chickens, camels, seals and squirrels are among the animals that have adorned her wonderland of a garden.

This is an excerpt from a larger article that appeared in Sunday’s Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article and find out how Heasley started.