July’s Keep Carbondale Beautiful Bright Spot award recipient goes to 208 S. Emerald St. Rick Crossley, moved in to the residence and transformed the yard in one years’ time. Working from home full time, he manages a resourceful outlet in landscaping such an enjoyable space. Starting at the mailbox by the street, ringed around colorful flowers. Along the drive up to the front door, a curvy, rock bordered, “French pebble drain” helps direct water flow from the home elegantly. Framing the doorway, top to bottom, is a small, lush jungle of potted plants. Outdoor furniture are also reclaimed finds that have been repaired and brightly spray painted into new life. All the planters were procured through estate sales and reclaimed side of the road finds.
Rick articulates, “I want it to look like a million dollars when it costs nothing at all to make it beautiful. This is my creative outlet”. Rick also mentions he is part of local Facebook community plant groups and has obtained a few great finds on that platform. The plants are impressively cared for, one such example, a sansevieria, or also known as, mother-in-law’s tongue, is over 30 years old. Notably, Rick mentions during the growing season, he uses fish fertilizer every 19 days. All the potted plants are stored indoors during the dormant season.
Wrapping around the home, red volcano rock edges an eclectic mix of plant holders and pedestals. These hold aloft the variety of geometric vegetation. Small found object statuary and trickling fountains are centerpieces along the playful row in the front yard. The balance and color of the display is skillfully apparent.
Rick articulates, “I want it to look like a million dollars when it costs nothing at all to make it beautiful. This is my creative outlet”. Rick also mentions he is part of local Facebook community plant groups and has obtained a few great finds on that platform. The plants are impressively cared for, one such example, a sansevieria, or also known as, mother-in-law’s tongue, is over 30 years old. Notably, Rick mentions during the growing season, he uses fish fertilizer every 19 days. All the potted plants are stored indoors during the dormant season.
Wrapping around the home, red volcano rock edges an eclectic mix of plant holders and pedestals. These hold aloft the variety of geometric vegetation. Small found object statuary and trickling fountains are centerpieces along the playful row in the front yard. The balance and color of the display is skillfully apparent.
July’s Keep Carbondale Beautiful business Bright Spot award recipient goes to Baker Family Dentistry, located 305 S. Oakland Ave. Doug Baker, owner and head dentist gave his business a facelift to the building and the landscaping during 2020. A family project, his wife and daughter did the landscaping and painting, his son and a friend worked with contractor Mark Gindlesparger of Murphysboro for remodeling. Redwood panels on the outside were torn down but repurposed and gifted to local artists.
Desiring to keep the original architectural design, but create a sleek and updated look, the small wooden deck was redone into a larger concrete deck with ramp walkup. The sculptural railing forged by Murphysboro metalsmith, John Medwedeff, greets guests with a fun and whimsical design. Thoughtfully placed, a bubbling fountain adds a calming effect before entering the dentist office. An Asian inspired bubble rock garden with a Japanese maple tree and butterfly bush round out the front visitor area.
“It is a good spot and central location. I like this friendly neighborhood”, Doug states. He and his business have been at this site since 2007. His investment in the local community resulted in cleaning a fair amount of litter out of the surrounding area and replanting holly trees. Various bird and small wildlife feeders are maintained along with flowering rose bushes for pollinators. The overall effect resulted in an easier managed space and revitalizes the immediate neighborhood.
Desiring to keep the original architectural design, but create a sleek and updated look, the small wooden deck was redone into a larger concrete deck with ramp walkup. The sculptural railing forged by Murphysboro metalsmith, John Medwedeff, greets guests with a fun and whimsical design. Thoughtfully placed, a bubbling fountain adds a calming effect before entering the dentist office. An Asian inspired bubble rock garden with a Japanese maple tree and butterfly bush round out the front visitor area.
“It is a good spot and central location. I like this friendly neighborhood”, Doug states. He and his business have been at this site since 2007. His investment in the local community resulted in cleaning a fair amount of litter out of the surrounding area and replanting holly trees. Various bird and small wildlife feeders are maintained along with flowering rose bushes for pollinators. The overall effect resulted in an easier managed space and revitalizes the immediate neighborhood.
Baker Family Dentistry Wins Business Bright Spot Award
Creative Planter Garden Wins July Bright Spot Award
August’s Keep Carbondale Beautiful Business Bright Spot award recipient
goes to Kids Korner, located 101 N Glenview Drive. Specifically the garden
caught the eye of many locals and had an interesting journey to the present.
Superintendent of Children and Director Katy Burns started the garden in a small
side corner of the front of the building. It was an auspicious beginning, starting
plants from seeds with kids and needing a place to grow those little plants.
“Growing food is important and teaching kids where our food comes from is so
valuable” Katy states. In a short 3 years, the blank grass strip in front of the
building has turned into an interagency, intergenerational, collaborative sustenance
education project.
As this outdoor classroom grew, a grant by Illinois Association of Parks
Districts called “Powerplay”, centered on health, nutrition and fitness, was
awarded to the Carbondale Parks District to guy the garden tools and equipment.
The U of I Extension and the Master Gardeners of Jackson co got involved to
support the day to day needs of the garden, which frees up time for the instructors
at Kids Korner. This partnership with U of I Extension donates to local food
pantries. Some of the produce stays at Kids Korner, some goes to Good Samaritan
House and local church donation sites.
Raised box bed gardens host a wide variety of vegetables and herbs.
Towering colorful heirloom tomato plants, verdant pepper and fragrant basil
sprawl all over the box maze garden that is indisputably bringing childhood magic
and memories to the children attending Kids Korner. Katy recounts a favorable
part of the garden, “hearing parents say, they don’t eat vegetables at home, and
then watching a kid pick a tomato off a plant is really fulfilling as an educator”
goes to Kids Korner, located 101 N Glenview Drive. Specifically the garden
caught the eye of many locals and had an interesting journey to the present.
Superintendent of Children and Director Katy Burns started the garden in a small
side corner of the front of the building. It was an auspicious beginning, starting
plants from seeds with kids and needing a place to grow those little plants.
“Growing food is important and teaching kids where our food comes from is so
valuable” Katy states. In a short 3 years, the blank grass strip in front of the
building has turned into an interagency, intergenerational, collaborative sustenance
education project.
As this outdoor classroom grew, a grant by Illinois Association of Parks
Districts called “Powerplay”, centered on health, nutrition and fitness, was
awarded to the Carbondale Parks District to guy the garden tools and equipment.
The U of I Extension and the Master Gardeners of Jackson co got involved to
support the day to day needs of the garden, which frees up time for the instructors
at Kids Korner. This partnership with U of I Extension donates to local food
pantries. Some of the produce stays at Kids Korner, some goes to Good Samaritan
House and local church donation sites.
Raised box bed gardens host a wide variety of vegetables and herbs.
Towering colorful heirloom tomato plants, verdant pepper and fragrant basil
sprawl all over the box maze garden that is indisputably bringing childhood magic
and memories to the children attending Kids Korner. Katy recounts a favorable
part of the garden, “hearing parents say, they don’t eat vegetables at home, and
then watching a kid pick a tomato off a plant is really fulfilling as an educator”
Community Kids Korner Garden Wins Business Bright Spot Award
August’s Keep Carbondale Beautiful residential Bright Spot award recipient goes to 512 Oak St. Long time Carbondale resident Sara Murphy has been tending to the space for 3 years. Much of the recent development has been a product of 18 months of quarantine and few things to do on the weekends, and “plenty, plenty, plenty of yard” Sara laughs recounting.
The biggest challenge is shade. Many of the trees are mature and were likely planted when the house was built in the 1930s. The stately trees casting dimness do not slow down Sara. Many purple and indigo plants do well in the dappled light. Ten different color varieties of hostas wrap around the side of the home along the old brick pathway. Purple plantain lilies rise above the hostas. Deep ruby oxalis shamrock, burgundy coralbells and striking magenta coleus plants are all thriving, colorful, blooms against an easy, low lit backdrop. In the midrange of this landscape are draping, broad leafed elephant ear plants, adding an outsized geometric feature to the space. Sea green ferns hang in lush masses, unhurried, awaiting visitors on the front porch.
The dreamy quality of the yard is further directed by tiny fairy doors at the foot of many trees, welcoming a magical atmosphere for ethereal beings. A good stopover for hummingbirds, several feeders wait to nourish the tiny iridescent birds. Enjoying the yard at night, solar lights are strung up through the lower branches of trees around the home. Tranquil space here feels miles away from city life.
The biggest challenge is shade. Many of the trees are mature and were likely planted when the house was built in the 1930s. The stately trees casting dimness do not slow down Sara. Many purple and indigo plants do well in the dappled light. Ten different color varieties of hostas wrap around the side of the home along the old brick pathway. Purple plantain lilies rise above the hostas. Deep ruby oxalis shamrock, burgundy coralbells and striking magenta coleus plants are all thriving, colorful, blooms against an easy, low lit backdrop. In the midrange of this landscape are draping, broad leafed elephant ear plants, adding an outsized geometric feature to the space. Sea green ferns hang in lush masses, unhurried, awaiting visitors on the front porch.
The dreamy quality of the yard is further directed by tiny fairy doors at the foot of many trees, welcoming a magical atmosphere for ethereal beings. A good stopover for hummingbirds, several feeders wait to nourish the tiny iridescent birds. Enjoying the yard at night, solar lights are strung up through the lower branches of trees around the home. Tranquil space here feels miles away from city life.
Lovely, Low Lit Lawn, 512 W. Oak, Wins Residential Bright Spot Award.
The Legacy Bright Spot award is an award given by Keep Carbondale
Beautiful to recognize previous recipients of the Bright Spot award. This
recognition is intended to encourage and maintain long term care and
stewardship to the local environment of Carbondale. One of the missions of
Keep Carbondale Beautiful is to preserve and maintain the local natural
beauty of Southern Illinois.
The inaugural Legacy Bright Spot award winner is kicking off with
601 W. Walnut. Kathy Kathie and Austin Rigney recall receiving the Bright
Spot award in July of 2004. Kathie laughs, telling what she remembers.
“It was nice to be recognized.” The home was built in 1917 and has been
added on to over the years. They moved to the residence in 1998. Preparing
for a growing family, Kathy began gardening in the front yard. In this
nesting garden, irises, spiderwort and Pocomoke crape myrtle were planted.
The oldest surviving plants are Jerusalem roses, over 20 years old.
The May 8 th storm shifted their yard around, an 80 ft oak lodged in
their attic. Getting the tree out, “we were entertainment for the whole
neighborhood” Kathie recounts. After that, they had the bug for reorganizing
the landscape. A white blooming redbud survived the storm,
casting its canopy over hydrangeas and boxwoods lining the front of the
home. A Japanese maple shades a horseshoe shaped garden with English ivy
and ferns. Around the side of the home is an oasis from the busy city street,
birdfeeders are set among a variety of herbs and large hostas.
Beautiful to recognize previous recipients of the Bright Spot award. This
recognition is intended to encourage and maintain long term care and
stewardship to the local environment of Carbondale. One of the missions of
Keep Carbondale Beautiful is to preserve and maintain the local natural
beauty of Southern Illinois.
The inaugural Legacy Bright Spot award winner is kicking off with
601 W. Walnut. Kathy Kathie and Austin Rigney recall receiving the Bright
Spot award in July of 2004. Kathie laughs, telling what she remembers.
“It was nice to be recognized.” The home was built in 1917 and has been
added on to over the years. They moved to the residence in 1998. Preparing
for a growing family, Kathy began gardening in the front yard. In this
nesting garden, irises, spiderwort and Pocomoke crape myrtle were planted.
The oldest surviving plants are Jerusalem roses, over 20 years old.
The May 8 th storm shifted their yard around, an 80 ft oak lodged in
their attic. Getting the tree out, “we were entertainment for the whole
neighborhood” Kathie recounts. After that, they had the bug for reorganizing
the landscape. A white blooming redbud survived the storm,
casting its canopy over hydrangeas and boxwoods lining the front of the
home. A Japanese maple shades a horseshoe shaped garden with English ivy
and ferns. Around the side of the home is an oasis from the busy city street,
birdfeeders are set among a variety of herbs and large hostas.
Send nominations to keepcb1326@gmail.com
2018 and 2019 Bright Spot Awards
2016 and 2017 Bright Spot Awards
2015 Bright Spot Awards
2014 Bright Spot Awards
Some Past Bright Spot Winners
