Backyard scarecrow keeps watch for new gardener

Ridgefield — When 79-year-old Dolly Hanes’ husband, Keith, died in March, she began a garden project in her yard to stay busy. Now, after help from son-in-law, Dale Lake, her garden is growing tomatoes, peppers, beets, watermelon and more — all watched over by a new friend: Mr. Huckleberry the scarecrow. Hanes pieced together the scarecrow, named after the Hanna and Barbera cartoon character Huckleberry Hound, in about six hours from chicken wire, plastic grocery bags, paper towel rolls, discarded clothes and other household items. “She is so proud of it,” wrote Hanes’ daughter Lynn Lake in an email.