Page 21 - 04_May-2025

illustration ANDREW BENSON
Civics
Farewell to Frontyards
in Bloom
For 25 years, Front Yards in Bloom — those cheerful
yellow signs honouring the work of proud green thumbs—
have felt like little love letters blooming across Edmonton’s
boulevards.
But this spring, just as dedicated gardeners began their seeding, the City qui-
etly discontinued the program. Citing a need to
focus on “core services” and limit tax increases, the cut is
expected to save a little over $40,000. (The City Farm was also eliminated.)
Though the signs were funded and branded by the City, the heart of the
program was always its volunteers. Since launching in 1999 as a collabo-
ration between the Edmonton Horticultural Society, postal workers and the
City, it grew from 150 nominations to more than 6,000. Posties led the charge,
nominating yards
on their routes, and sparking friendly competition between neighbours and
eventually whole neighbourhoods as they
competed for first place in different categories.
Kathleen Mpulubusi, a carrier and longtime coordinator of the program,
remembers chatting with gardeners, swapping plant cuttings, and seeing one
nominated yard inspire a
block-wide beautification ripple. “It’s really sad,” she says of
the cancellation, especially after last year’s 25th anniversary
celebrations. But there may be hope yet. According to Mpulubusi, the Edmon-
ton Horticultural Society is in talks with the Federation of Community Leagues
to take over the program, and hopes to gain access to the city’s database to help
revive it.
Until then, Edmontonians will have to make their own
nominations — with compliments, cuttings, or maybe a thank-you note in
the mailbox. Because even without a sign on the lawn, those blooming love
letters to the city are still being written, one yard at a time. ED.
–Natasha Chiam
EDIFY
YOUR
YARD!
Sad to say good-
bye to Front Yards
in Bloom? Don’t
wait for some-
one to save it —
boast about your
blooms with us by
sending photos to
editor@odvod
publishing.com.
We’ll share our
favourites online.
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