Cindy Wilson’s home on Butterfly Lane in Doney Park, Arizona, has become a haven for her neighborhood, thanks to her flower garden. What started as a hobby after retirement has grown into a garden oasis, where people can wander through the sprawling flower beds, fill a basket with blooms, and take home a handpicked bouquet for free.
The original plan was to sell the flowers, but after her neighborhood was hit by wildfires and flooding, Wilson discovered the real value of the flowers was in giving them away. She invited neighbors affected by the disasters to come pick, hoping to bring kindness and joy.
Creating a Garden Oasis
Wilson’s nearly 3-acre property features a beige house with red trim, a deck, and a grassy open area where visitors park. The cottage-style garden has rows of blooms marked by hand-painted wooden signs. Wilson, 69, tends to the plants and has learned to garden through social media tips and volunteering for a florist.
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She grew seedlings in her garage and some flowers in her yard, and even had a local florist interested in buying from her. However, after the natural disasters hit, Wilson’s focus shifted to sharing the happiness that flowers could bring. Her first “you pick” event was an invitation to people in Doney Park and Timberline, two communities northeast of Flagstaff that had been affected.
A Community Comes Together
One of Wilson’s neighbors, 70-year-old Mary Walton, has lived next door for 15 years and has seen the garden bring comfort to residents and smiles to visitors. Walton says she hears the garden bell, usually pulled by excited children, which signals “it’s pick-it time!” The garden has become a community effort, with neighbors helping Wilson run the events and promote them on social media.
Dozens of people come to the garden, including families with small children, students at nearby Northern Arizona University, and travelers passing through the Grand Canyon state. Wilson says, “When the flowers are ready, I invite people over.” She and her friends and neighbors greet visitors with shears and wicker baskets, collected from Goodwill, and send them into the garden with simple instructions: Cut low and take 15 stems.
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The Joy of Sharing
Wilson smiles as she watches visitors’ reactions, saying, “How could I not do it?” The flowers are free, though visitors sometimes leave donations to help with the cost of keeping the garden growing. As the arrival of fall approaches, Wilson is getting ready to prune what’s left of the plants, fertilize the soil, and wait out the wintry weather.
She has bought cool-season seeds to plant in the spring so they are ready to be picked next summer. Wilson looks out her kitchen window each morning at a rose growing nearly 5 feet tall, enjoying its presence until someone takes it home. She encourages people to take the time to go outside, put their hands in the dirt, pick a flower, and appreciate nature.
Wilson’s garden has become more than just a hobby – it’s a way to connect with her community and share the joy of nature. With her “you pick” events, Wilson is creating a sense of belonging and happiness among those who visit, and her garden has become a beloved fixture in the neighborhood.
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