This garden was planted to bring colour and hope to a neglected and desperate part of Vancouver city. In an industrial neighborhood where many sex-trade workers spend hours-- day and night, the plot's location is on Glen, just off of Vancouver's notorious East Hastings.
Needles, used condoms, garbage and makeshift homes can be found within feet of the flowers you see here.
Although what you see in early pictures are mostly annuals, there are plenty of perennials and bulbs laying in wait.
Some people have laughed at my efforts as they've walked past, but smiles and appreciative comments have come from many others. Several women in the alley have complimented the garden and usually strike up a conversation with me about their history of gardening or a story of why they like flowers. One sex-worker even helped me haul bags of soil that were to be dumped on the garden one day!
The goal is to develop sustainable beauty that will enrich the lives in the neighborhood for years to come, even after we've left our rental spot in the neighborhood.
The first plot planted was sun garden #1, soon to be expanded if I have anything to do with it! (Lots of room for expansion!)
The sun garden looked something like this BEFORE
sun garden DURING
early spring 2006
sun garden AFTER(although it looks much different now, more pix to come!)
late spring 2006
Next up is the shade garden in the corner....
1 comment:
Beauty is never wasted.
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