Buddha's front yard

We live in what would never be called a conventional neighborhood. Many people here go in for the Food not Lawns (or Beauty not Lawns or Art not Lawns) movement, eschewing the traditional tidy lawns and boring shrubs for more original and eclectic landscaping.

Case in point: this house is a block from us. Their front yard has been turned into a shrine for Buddha (and, apparently for Ents). It's creative, fun and eye-catching and has a certain community feel to it, as the many offerings indicate. There's also a sacredness to it, as those who pass by might pause for a moment to think about some wisdom of the Buddha.

I love living in a place where you never know what surprises the next street may offer up - a mosaic, a poetry post, a communal cob bench, a painted street, a labyrinth - and the artistic people who create them.

You can see photos of more of the detail of this yard here.

The thought manifests as the word. The word manifests as the deed. The deed develops into habit. And the habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care. And let it spring from love, born out of concern for all beings. - The Buddha