the beginning.

I am not sure if I chose this project or if the project chose me. But almost immediately after writing that little blurb about the "Nest Chapter", I went to the Sandy Springs library and saw uncut grass, bare spots, trash, debris, dead trees, downed trees, weeds, no flowers, ugliness. As I do all the time, I recruited Don. We went to the library and cut, weed eated and blew the lawns. I picked up trash. and then, I called the county. No, the grass has not been cut this year. No, the grass isn't going to be cut this year. I had to do something. I organized. I called my pastor. I need the football players from his school. Done. I called my friend who employed M. I need a big old pine tree removed. Done. I bumped into my friends down the street who are connected to all the power people in Sandy Springs. I need help in the library. They gave me names, phone numbers, email addresses. I emailed my city councilman, Gabe Sterling. And we started to work. So, yes, I spent my summer at the library. I went 2-3 days a week for 45 minutes or so to put out wood chips. My dear, sweet husband weed eated. The football players weeded, wood chipped, picked up trash. I emailed the school to ask for help for the garden. Everyone said yes except the developer across the street. And he really didn't say no, he just never called me back. I am going to call him today and ask for $. In the process, I have met amazing people. People who spend THEIR free hours putting art in public spaces. Mothers who are in that stage of life moving children from one place to another but are still willing to call Fulton Co. and ask for the money they were promised. Homeless people who live at the library. People whose mom, grandmother, aunt were part of the early years of Sandy Springs who wanted beautiful public spaces. And so, I thought I would jot down what I have started to call in my head "Tales of the Garden".