by Evelyn Alemanni

Honestly, I was going to title this blog "Garden Angels on Active Duty" because it fits so well and because I experience the reality of "unseen helpers" in my own garden, often on a daily basis.

For those of you who are starting your America in Bloom adventure and thinking, whew, it's a lot of work... how are we going to get the help we need... where is the money coming from.... here's a true story from our friends in Shipshewana, Indiana, who participated in the program for the first time in 2009. 

Shipshewana is a remarkable town of less than 1000 people, located in the heart of Indiana's Amish country. It is one of the top travel destinations in Indiana, both for shopping and for scenic beauty.

The story comes to us courtesy of Kris Stutzman, manager of Lolly's Fabrics and proud mom of five little Stutzmans. This story offers tips on strategy as well as a surprise. Kris was asked to be the AIB representative for Harrison and Main Sts. Think about it... how smart are they to appoint someone to be in charge of a specific area? But wait, more good ideas are coming!

At their first meeting, they chose a theme (now that's really a great idea - you'll find it very helpful in your own planning) of "Flags and Flowers".  After the meeting, they strolled down Harrison St. to be sure they had covered all their bases. (Another great idea - take a tour yourself and work with a team for inspiration and ideas.)

When they got to the south end of Harrison St., they saw The Farm House on the left with its stunning landscaping and colorful flowers and on the right, on town property, an eyesore. They decided right then and there that something had to be done. One of the committee members offered the services of her nephew, Danny, a landscaper. Danny came back with some great ideas, but the question remained, "Who will foot the bill?"

As it turns out, a former resident had left some money with Kris for a community project. Some of the funds had already been used, but Kris was sure there was some money left. She told Danny to go ahead with the work and send her the bill. A few days later, on her way home from work, she saw Danny at the corner, hard at work. She was amazed at the transformation. It was a MIRACLE! He had planted red, white, and blue flowers to go with the committee's theme.

When the bill came, Kris discovered that the fund had only $30 left. But the bill was $225.00. She prayed, reminding God that she didn't have $200 extra to pay the bill. 

The next day, when she returned to work, someone had found money near her store. It had been turned into the lost and found. A week later, no one had claimed the two crisp $100 bills, and the funds were used to pay for the landscaping work. 

As Kris likes to say, "Thank you, Lord, for the miracle on Harrison St."