“Remoted – Hybrid” – Day 829 (Wednesday) – secrets and surprises

John St., Lowell,
 July 2016.

The walk to the office from the garage went past the small secret garden on John Street. It’s nestled between two concrete buildings, with a wrought iron fence along the sidewalk and can be easy to miss.

Over the years, it has occasionally been sadly overgrown and overrun with weeds. Human trash like cups, wrappers, cans, and other junk have been deposited or blown in. 

When traveling on John Street away from Merrimack Street, the flowers of the garden are not even in the line of sight. That might be what makes it special and fun. It’s one of several little pockets of peace and prettiness tucked away in downtown.  

I first noticed the little garden a few months after starting at the bank. Photos of the space from July 2016 show a neat and tidy space planted with multiple rose bushes. They have grown considerably since then, stretching higher than the windows are tall.

John St., Lowell, June 2022.

Since returning to the office three days a week, and especially this spring, I’ve been paying attention to the space during the walks from the garage, waiting to see the degree to which it will bloom. 

I either forgot to pay attention last Friday and Monday, or the rose bushes exploded with blooms since then. This morning it was full of yellow roses. So pretty.