Hyattsville Community Garden Blooming Civic Pride

I'll gladly admit that I've undoubtedly melo-dramatized my early pre-teen experience with gardens and gardening.

Looking back through the murky mists of time, I can clearly remember many a beautiful summer day when my seemingly tyrannical father press ganged me into marching outside—armed with hoe, cultivator, gloves and trowel—for a so-called character-building experience. An experience dedicated to weeding, pruning, more weeding, digging, yet more weeding, mulching, still more weeds, watering, etc., on what was always the nicest day of the week (nay, year!)—a day in which I should have been outside riding my bike or playing with friends who didn't have to suffer through such torture on a weekly basis.

By the way, did I mention the weeding?

So. I felt a certain amount of skepticism when I first heard there were Hyattsvillians who wanted to voluntarily . While I certainly supported the garden, I privately assumed it would fizzle. "Why," I thought, "would anyone want to possibly spend their hard-earned free time toiling in the muck and mire to create a garden?" 

On the other hand, the less cynical, jaded side of me couldn't help but admire their enthusiasm. I loved the idea that a group of civic-minded Hyattsville residents had recognized a neighborhood need and addressed it. They wanted to make Hyattsville a better place to live. Hurrah! 

Yet, I was still doubtful. Even if the garden was planted in the spring, by the time the sticky summer heat arrived, I figured people would lose interest, the garden would brown and die.

Thankfully I've been proven wrong on a daily basis. As my wife and I drive to and from the each day, it's been such a pleasure to see the garden grow. I feel proud that the city has such a strong community spirit. I almost feel guilty that I'm not doing more for the garden. I'm almost tempted to don hat and gloves to pull weeds. Almost.