Pearl Fryar Topiary Gardens.

The Fryar house and its gardens from across the road.

 A single topiary tree. 

Most of the plants were salvaged from nursery trashes, discarded as too ugly or too sick.

 Grace under half the double arch on the lot beside the house.

 One of a few individual flowers.

The street number.

Plants and sculpture in the house yard.

 Looks like everybody's having fun today.

 The pedestrian entrance to the house gardens.

 Mr. Fryar himself spots us and comes over to talk. Almost his first words to us: "I've created a monster." Meaning too much to handle for a 73-year old. He speaks in universities, colleges and shows all over the country. Sometimes he has 200 visitors in a day, he told us.

 I had to hold the camera over my head as high as I could to get this word.

The sign at the head of the street.

Columbia International Festival, April, 2013

 Welcome to my post of CIF in April.

Can you recognize these countries represented, without cheating and peeking?

I like his sideburns, don't you? Animal rights probably don't like his headdress, though.

 This country's name means "many trees."

 What country is this? Think sombreros and Pollo Loco.

 The largest country in Central America.

 I once had an Arab pen pal from this country, many years ago.

 This country's land is called the cradle of civilization, but has a tumultuous history.

 This man was loquacious, comparing his country with ours, and complaining about prices over there.

 Bread sticks and wine--of all De Gaulle!

 Think cedar trees. "Thy nose is as the tower of _______."

 Some of you know what a sari-sari is besides me.

 Vicunas, Incas, and sister-in-law.

 These aren't the typical matrishkas that I usually see. More expensive, though.

 Think Torah.

 Philip the Evangelist made a convert from here.

The brightly-colored fish over my bathtub came from this country.

Think cockney and cricket and queens.