Cleaning up the hood


Actually there were only eight of us, so we just managed the east end of Allentown’s main business street. It starts with a corner garden (of sorts) that has a large expanse of grass, a few trees, a cement/tile triangular planter, a walkway, and a shelter in the form of a hyperbolic paraboloid. It’s a neat little space, though many feel a building should be there. Here's a better image of the corner planter in high summer.



Long ago there were some wooden raised beds that were demolished by the owner of the lot. I worked on them, and also on some tree beds that are still there—sort of. I was amazed to see that some white parrot tulips I planted around one the trees 9 years ago were still blooming. That would never happen in my front yard.


After the wooden beds were gone, some architecture students (the ones who built the planter, walkway, and paraboloid) hauled marble remnants to help fill in the space. I like them, and they looked especially good today, surrounded as they were by muscari and dandelions.


So I admired them for a while, and then it was back to sweeping up cigarette butts and clearing out winter debris.

Comments

Sheri, RN said…
It looks great! :)
Carol Michel said…
Why is it that neglected (presumably neglected) tulips are there years later but those we want to return in our garden and take care of (presumably) disappear after a year?

That garden looks very nice!
garden girl said…
Very pretty garden. Kudos Elizabeth, for helping take care of it.
Good job. Doesn't it feel good to do a service like this.?.
EAL said…
That is what I am wondering Carol. The spot is very open, and in full sun, but still. And parrots in particular are short-lived. I think it's because they are white. I have found that white flowers last longer; I have no good evidence to back this up however.
Srividya said…
Couldn't hep but comment on the Parrot tulips. A bunch I planted 8 years ago comes back every year in my front yard too and they are red. The rest of the tulips barely make it to the second year.
Gail said…
It does look good...too bad that folks want to develop (It’s a neat little space, though many feel a building should be there.) every empty space in a city! Infill...can't they see it's already filled with a lovely garden! gail
lisa said…
So you're one of those mysterious gardeners who make the local landscape look better! Bravo! Can you clone yourself for my local town, too? ;-)
gardenretreat said…
I think tulips are truly a mystery. I agree also in that I have random tulips that come back every year while what the ones I planted in my front garden always seem to be a challenge.

Once my kids are out of the house in the next two years I hope to do some community work like you have.

It looks great
life said…
Beautiful gardon!
Layanee said…
Oh and where do you find the time....this looks great and the marble is so very interesting among the 'lilies of the field'.

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