Leisure talk: Sidewalk flowers and grass

Having the opportunity to wander the streets of Europe, one thing that makes me interested and surprised is the flower miniatures placed on the sidewalks, or under the pretty windows.

A small wooden pot, made of a few wooden planks, or a simple ceramic pot planted with brightly colored flowers such as petunias, daisies, pensee... can be placed anywhere on the path, pretty and not taking up much space. Once in the town of Bag Homburg, Germany, standing from a high slope looking down at the rows of old roofs, I saw a small path on both sides with flower pots simulating miniature wine barrels arranged cheerfully like toys; and there was even a pretty flower pot placed on... the roof. The owner, if he had time to take care, would trim the flower cluster into a heart shape, or combine the colors in a very bright, artistic way. Those flower pots appeared as a greeting, a surprise gift, friendly to passersby, whether familiar or unfamiliar.

Another time, in Quedlinburg, one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Europe, a UNESCO world heritage site with more than 1,300 unique half-timbered houses, I was delighted to see the brilliant, round "flower balls" hanging high in the sky, held up by sturdy steel wires. Roses, dahlias, chrysanthemums, yellow, orange, red lilies... formed into a round ball-like shape, appearing here and there. Tourists watching the street discovered the unique fresh flower balls, so they stopped and pointed them out to each other, everyone smiling with interest.

Another impression was the flower baskets on the street-facing windows near Mozart ’s house in Salzburg, Austria. I was extremely delighted to see that all the flower baskets were “invited” to choose a bright red color. I will always remember the red color standing out on the long, narrow street.

Sometimes, restaurant and store signs are also made into cute miniature landscapes. In the small town of Étretat, France, where there is a rocky mountain range called "God's Elephant" with a curved dome like an elephant's trunk dipping into the sea, I was impressed by a pretty sign placed on a miniature landscape like a tiny oxcart full of fresh flowers signaling that there is a herbal shop here. The colorful flower baskets on the "bicycle" bridges in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, perhaps make anyone who passes by stop to take many souvenir photos... Flowers on the street not only beautify the street but also attract tourists with familiar and pleasant feelings.

In recent years, in Saigon, it is easy to see that flower pots have begun to increase, not only in parks or garden plots on the street. There are cafes and restaurants decorating their shops, office facades with flower pots also beautify the sidewalk corners; there are tree stumps "covered" with portulaca and zinnias; and residential areas have added many colors of wallflowers, bougainvillea, roses, yellow trumpet vine, sunflowers, periwinkle... Flowers are scattered on the sidewalks, seemingly not belonging to just one house, making visitors happy and pleased to see them.

Instead of the big and small bags of trash thrown in the wrong place, the flower pots and flower baskets on the street make me think of a change in awareness, habits and culture. In the morning when I go for a jog, the strong scent of laurel after the night rain makes my steps stop for a moment, the air seems to be purified, clear and pure.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhan-dam-hoa-co-via-he-185250920180437019.htm