Plants vs. Zombies
I’m not sure what was more unusual on Richland this afternoon, the foliage or the garden gnomes. Richland started out like most other streets that I have walked. It began at an intersection with a busier street (Madison) and ran south all the way to Lakewood Heights Boulevard.
However, as I was walking down the sidewalk I spotted a house with an actual palm tree growing in the front yard. I’m not sure how it survives the cold Lakewood winters, but there it was prospering. Then I looked up the driveway and saw two other palm trees on the side of the house. The sun was shining on their giant leaves reminding me of a tropical island. It had me longing for a margarita when I got home.
I have also passed many yard ornaments since I began in February, many of them garden gnomes. They have been of all shapes and sizes, but none freakier than the zombie gnome I caught staring back at me from a front porch step. I hope it doesn’t escape and infect all the other gnomes throughout Lakewood.
![](https://lakewoodatoz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/IMG_5436.jpeg)