A few years ago, I was watching a television show about gardening. (Why? I don’t have a garden. Or a yard. Or even a green thumb for that matter.) I saw a clip about Pearl Fryar, a self-taught topiary artist. I use the word artist deliberately, and you’ll see why in just a moment.
I felt a strange connection to Pearl, even though we have little in common on the surface. He’s an African American man in his late 60s in a rural Southern town who creates living sculptures from plants in his backyard. Pearl has a message he is trying to convey, and I sensed the honesty in his art. What I mean is, he has a commitment to his garden that precedes almost everything else. One might say it’s a calling. And by answering that calling, he has brought joy to himself, to his community, and to thousands of visitors.
I’m thrilled to be able to share Pearl’s story on Beth Ann’s blog, It’s Just Life. Beth Ann also participates in Comments for a Cause, donating money to a charity for each comment made on her blog. This month, it’s Room to Read, a wonderful organization that promotes literacy worldwide.
