An Enchanted Garden

About a week ago I was channel surfing and came upon a gardening show. My hubby and I watched with interest. He's an avid gardener and there was a segment on topiary gardening. Long story short that's when we first becane acquainted with Pearl Fryar. Next day we felt compelled to take a drive an hour and a half away to see his garden first hand.

It is remarkable what one man had accomplished over the course of twenty years. He started with a three minute lesson on the craft and a two dollar throw away plant. He started his garden in a response to his frustration at not being able to achieve his career goals, being a black man in the South at that time.

Pearl says it all started when he decided to try to win the yard of the month award. He lived outside the city limits, in a “black” neighborhood, and the city garden club didn’t give the award to outsiders. But Pearl just couldn’t help himself – he had to use his limitless energy, and his drive to be more than average, to do something that would give him the recognition and attention which he craved.

We got to meet Pearl who is a most gracious host with a message of positivity that we all need to heed. A movie about Pearl has been made as is actually playing across country right now.

The garden is awe inspiring. If you have a chance please go visit. Pearl is the real Edward Scissorhands and has inspired his entire cul de sac and some of his town to express themselves in their landscape.

Pearl's Garden Website

And on this day when the potential for America to have it's first black president seems well within hand I leave you with this quote from Pearl:

"There's always going to be obstacles. The thing is you don't let those obstacles determine where you go."