Columbus, Ohio USA
Return to Homepage www.shortnorth.com

The Garden District
Rob Harris shares his story
June 2006

Return to Article Harrison West Open Garden Tour

Conquering the alley behind their home was a project successfully tackled by homeowners Rob Harris and Tim Bledsoe.

My first introduction to gardening in the Short North began while attending an Open Garden Tour on West Fourth Avenue. The area was referred to as the Garden District, which brought to mind a century of gardeners working to beautify the area. I later learned that the name was actually borrowed from the High Street Garden Theatre. The compact urban gardens and colorful residents drew me into the area like a bee to honey. A short time later my partner and I bought our home on Fourth Avenue; we immediately began working on our own garden. Our first amateur efforts at clearing the yard brought much-needed help and advice from our new neighbors. We still enjoy some of the plants given to us in those early years, and the advice we received has proven priceless.

Gardening tends to grow beyond the boundaries of your lot and involve the entire community. My partner and I were so impressed with the warm nature of our neighborhood that we soon decided to expand our involvement in the area. I have watched our neighborhood prosper and grow from that first garden tour through numerous home tours and countless park clean-ups. I was recently elected President of the Harrison West Society and have found that the nurturing of a community is very similar to the care of a garden. With dedication and hard work, both will prosper and grow to be an incredible place to live. The Short North is very fortunate to have so many wonderful residents and the gardens that reflect their personalities.

I look forward to introducing new neighbors from near and far to the garden that is my neighborhood.

©2006 Short North Gazette, Columbus, Ohio. All rights reserved.