Best on the Block

In 2002 when Paul and I were new to the neighborhood (we had been in our house for less than a year) we happened to win the “Best on the Block” award for our home! We were thrilled but also rather confused… and we laughed about it a lot. Take a look at the photo we were presented at the ceremony (and yes, there was a ceremony!):



Best on the Block



Yep, you just looked at a picture of a “Best on the Block” winner! The front lawn was COMPLETELY brown and dried out. The blue house shingles were in desperate need of repainting. The tree was bare. The only redeeming quality (and I’m sure this must be why we won) is that we had three hanging baskets on the front porch. It was laughable. We joke that when our house was actually selected, it must have been on the one day a year that our flowering tree looks beautiful. We know we shouldn’t have won but we accepted our award gracefully and did have a "Best on the Block" sign out front for a short time...just for laughs. 

Ok. I’ll be honest. We couldn't part with the sign and it's still in the garage eight years later. 

Anyhow, when we won the award, were embarrassed because at that time, we had neighbors on either side of us that had beautiful gardens. They spent HOURS planting, watering and weeding. We did very little and we won. It’s something that we look back on and laugh about. And to this day, whenever we know the house is starting to look like an eyesore, Paul reminds me that “Hey, no worries. We’re the best on the block!”

Well we were the best on the block but this summer, we should have had that title stripped from us. It’s embarrassing, really, just how bad the front yard has looked for the last 3 months or so.

We decided during late spring that we wanted to remove the large bush in the middle of the front yard. In the picture, it’s the one to the left of the stairs. The bush had gotten huge and didn’t really “add anything” to the look of the front yard. We decided that we would plant some perennials and spruce the place up.

The problem with this idea was that we knew we wanted the bush OUT but we didn’t know what we wanted IN. One ambitious afternoon, Paul went ahead and ripped out the bush, roots and all. He got some dirt from the neighbors (yes, the neighbors who actually DO garden and should have won “Best on the Block”) and filled in the hole. He went so far as to get 5 bags of mulch and very nicely leaned the bags against the porch for when we were ready to complete the project and add that finishing touch. And that is where my story ends.

All summer long we have had a gaping hole where the bush used to be. Nothing was ever planted. The mulch bags remained in the front yard until last week when Paul moved them to the garage. I am thoroughly embarrassed to be admitting this.

Now, let’s get one thing clear: I did not like the look of my front yard all summer. I hated it. But at the same time, I never did anything about it. I was waiting for the garden fairy to come. Actually, I kinda’ half-hoped that my gardening neighbor would have gotten fed up and done something about it for us. Oh wait, she already does water the rosebushes and rhododendron in my garden that looks out over her driveway.

Honest to goodness, I haven’t touched the front yard since that bush was ripped out…until yesterday. I cleaned up the one bush that remained and gave it a much-needed haircut. And I decided to weed the patch of dirt where the bush used to be. Enormous, and I mean enormous weeds had sprung up in that filled-in dirt hole. As I weeded, I realized that in addition to the weeds, there were actual plants that had sprung up and grown completely unnoticed in the weed patch.

I kid you not, this is what I found growing and I know I did not plant these things:

Beautiful Marigold!

A tomato plant with ACTUAL grape tomatoes!

Some unknown plant with a yellow flower. If you know what it is, please tell me!

Seriously… all of this was growing there and I had no idea. A grape tomato plant with real tomatoes? I couldn’t believe it.

It got me to thinking… that my life is a lot like that garden. At times, it can seem overwhelmingly crazy and out of control and completely overrun with weeds. Being a taxi driver for four kids wasn’t exactly why I went to college. Changing diapers for 7 years is astounding when you think about it… and rather stinky! Having to vacuum the house and clean the sink and make endless meals that half the family refuses to eat can numb the brain. And if I allow it to, the weeds of negativity will take over and I’ll miss what is truly growing and producing life for me!

But when I get down on my knees and begin to examine what my weeds are (yours will be different, I’m sure!) and I start pulling them out, I am delighted by the surprises that I find there in my garden.  In place of the marigold, I find a little girl that wants me to read endless books to her. Instead of the tomato plant, I find a son who would never admit it but loves to snuggle and thrives on a gentle touch. And like the unknown flowering plant, there are mysteries in each of my children that I need to unlock and embrace and shower with love.

And it’s a lot easier to enjoy these things when I keep the weeds from growing.

So to my neighbors: I commit to taking better care of the front yard. I will plant those perennials. I will keep up with the weeding and I’ll do my best to honor the title of “Best on the Block”. (Unfortunately, my neighbors don’t read this!) And to my family, I love you! And I’ll keep the weeds of negativity from invading what matters most: my moments with you.