In a city that hums with the energy of traffic, construction and the bustle of summer festivals, stumbling upon a blooming front yard can feel like uncovering a secret love letter to Edmonton itself. Gardens cultivated with dedication, watered with patience and tended with care can delight passersby. And just in case you might miss these moments, their caretakers put up a cheerful little sign to yield your attention, slow down, and savour a simple joy. You know the one — it’s Front Yards in Bloom.
But after 25 years, these signs will soon be no more. While pruning the budget last December, the City decided to quietly discontinued the program and updated the program’s website with the news in late March, just as its biggest fans had started seeding. Citing a need to focus on “core services” and limit tax increases, the decision is expected the save taxpayers a little over $40,000. (Council also cut the City Farm, a five-acre garden growing fresh produce for Edmonton Food Bank clients.)
Although the signs were funded (and branded) by the City of Edmonton, they wouldn’t exist without the work of dedicated volunteers who share in the joy of recognizing beautiful gardens across the city. From nominating yards to delivering the signs, the program has always been a passion project.
It began in 1999 as a collaboration between the Edmonton Horticultural Society, the local postal workers union and the municipal government as a way of lauding residents beautifying the city in their own little ways — whether it be native plant gardens, edible gardens, and even balcony gardens. Postal workers were the original scouts, nominating 150 yards in 1999. That’s since grown to more than 6,000 honourees by both posties and the general public.
A friendly competition between neighbours and even neighbourhoods bloomed, too. Each year the city awards first, second and third place distinctions to neighhourhoods with the most honours for each category. Last year, Alberta Avenue took top prize in the General Yard category, while Ottewell won edible yards and Downtown, naturally, dominated best balconies.
Kathleen Mpulubusi, a carrier with Canada Post for 22 years, was an admirer and prolific nominator of Edmonton gardens throughout her career and the CUPW coordinator for the program until her retirement in 2024. An avid gardener herself, Mpulubusi would often stop and talk plants with the gardeners on her route. “I’d admire a flower or a plant in someone’s yard, and ask, ‘What’s that?’ And they would dig some up or give me a cutting.”
Mpulubusi says that, while Edmonton has some truly standout gardens, nominating a yard was often more about celebrating the gardener — the 85-year-old woman out every day, rain or shine, or the family tending their incredible edible garden. She fondly remembers Iglesia Ni Cristo, a church in the Wellington neighbourhood that won first place in the Best Public Spaces category in 2024. Twenty congregation members proudly accepted the award. Over the years, Mpulubusi noticed a ripple effect — the sight of a nominated yard often inspired neighbours to beautify their own spaces, hoping for one of those coveted signs.
Mpulubusi is disappointed about the program ending. “It’s really sad, because last year we had a bit a bigger celebration, because it was the 25th anniversary,” she said. As Canada Post also tightens its belt, it’s doubtful that posties could manage it themselves, but there’s still hope. According to Mpulubusi, the Edmonton Horticultural Society is in talks with the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues to potentially take over the program. She says the society also hopes to accessing the program’s database to help carry it forward one way or another.
For now, Edmontonians will have to try and be a little more present to notice and soak in the beauty around them. And instead of secretly nominating those vibrant, creative gardens for a little sign of recognition, we’ll simply have to say it ourselves and tell our neighbours how much their blooming love letters mean to us.
Sad to say goodbye to Front Yards in Bloom? Don’t wait for someone to save it—boast about your blooms now with us by sending photos to [email protected]. We’ll share our favourites online.
