Some days, I can get caught up in the mess of the neighborhood. As a member of the Adopt-a-Drain effort*, I tend to notice the street drains that are all plugged up with leaves / tree branches and garbage thrown to the curbs from vehicles. It is easy to get distracted by the mess, and that prompts me to also look for the creativity of others that enhance our neighborhoods.
One uplifting display of creativity in our neighborhood is a shared boulevard garden across three homes. One of the homeowners explained to me that it wasn’t a carefully crafted plan between them. First one, then another, and then the third created a joined effort to show the awesome landscaping possibilities for the Minnesota summers. The common feature is a border along the sidewalk and the street curb. Some plants are shared across all three homes, and some plants are the preference of the individual homeowner. These combined plots are a joy when I go for a walk in my neighborhood.
Another gem is this fowl family (pictured) on display and always brings a smile. The costumes change throughout the year. Veterans Day is my favorite when this group is dressed in uniforms for the different services.
My husband is the green thumb in our family, and health issues have kept him from gardening this year. (It hasn’t kept him from buying annuals, and I’ve tried to keep up with him, but I take the blame for letting some plants die before they got in the ground.) If you can’t put your creativity on display, that’s okay. You can thank those that share their creativity in your neighborhood and it will definitely bring a smile to them.
*(For more information on adopting your local drain, search for Minneapolis Adopt-a-Drain in your internet browser.)