Inloes Park receives Des Fleurs’ Garden of the Month award for August

One of the busiest street lights in Oxford is at the intersection of Locust Street and High Street. Multiple cars cross the light each day on their way Uptown or towards campus. 

If you’re stuck at a red light there, however, you may notice a garden nestled on the west side of Locust Street. An array of perennials and annuals creates a colorful display for vehicles and pedestrians passing by. 

This garden makes up Inloes Park, the most recent recipient of the Des Fleurs Garden Club’s Garden of the Month award. 

This garden is maintained by a partnership between the City of Oxford and the Des Fleurs Inloe’s Committee. The collaboration dates back to 1979, but the garden has seen several revisions throughout the years. 

Brenda Frey, a member of Des Fleurs since 2005, said working with the city to maintain the green spaces and gardens in Oxford helps elevate the beauty of the town. 

Des Fleurs is a service organization dedicated to “knowing, growing, showing and sharing” the beauty of Oxford’s gardens and flowers. Beyond its Garden of the Month award, Des Fleurs hosts an annual plant sale and auction, as well as a bi-annual flower show. It also sponsors Uptown flower baskets, sells Christmas wreaths and swags and maintains the plantings at the Oxford Community Art Center. 

Multiple committees comprise Des Fleurs, including the Inloes Committee, which maintains the garden. The Beautification Committee, of which Frey is the chairperson, scouts gardens around Oxford that stand out to receive recognition. 

The committee divides Oxford into four sections, with two committee members covering each area. Among other criteria, these members look for well-kept gardens and lawns that consist of a diversity of plants and unique landscaping.

“We’ve made a lot of great friends and potential members through that way,” Frey said. “We even have potential candidates for our garden tours that we have every other year. It’s a really wonderful committee to be a part of, and you get in and around Oxford and places that you never dreamt of.”

Once the Beautification Committee decides on its garden of the month, the members create a certificate and a yard sign to give to the owner. Frey said this helps give recognition to those who take good care of their green spaces, especially because many don’t think others notice. 

“It’s really humbling to the homeowner to receive that,” Frey said. “A lot of people say, ‘Oh, I didn’t think anybody noticed.’ But we’re out there, and we do notice … That is what makes Oxford extra special.”

The Inloes Committee planted the seeds and maintained the garden, but Frey said partnering with the city was a factor in keeping it well kept. 

“Our committee members are just wonderful to work with,” Frey said, “along with the City of Oxford. Steve [Olm] and his crew came this summer, and we asked for the hillside to be cleared because it’s not safe for our crew to be up there. He brought in seven crew members  and cleared out that hillside and some of the overgrowth … We cannot thank Steve and his crew enough.”

The members chose Inloes Park as the Garden of the Month for August based on the assorted colorful flowers on display, which Frey said is thanks to the rich soil in the park. It also attracts birds and butterflies. 

This marks the first time the park received the award from Des Fleurs. Members attended a ceremony on Aug. 14 to celebrate and place the yard sign. 

“It just goes to show you that one party appreciates the other party just as much as you could ever hope for,” Frey said. “It is a true partnership, and something that each party, I believe, is very proud to be associated with. We couldn’t accomplish what we strive to do without working together in one community.”

As students return to campus, the intersection will see more traffic. When people are waiting for the light to change, Frey hopes they take a glance to the side to see the garden and hopefully come back for scenic photos or to enjoy the flowers on display. 

“It’s considered by most as a drive-by garden,” Frey said. “It is a very busy intersection there …  but it gives one a chance to pause while they’re at the red light and to look over and see the beautiful color and see the butterflies and the birds. Hopefully, it brings a smile to your face while you’re sitting there waiting for the light to change.”