Sunnyside is a little different than other communities in Calgary. Some say it is wacky, others say it is special.

There are many things that make it unique. Karen Teskey’s yard is definitely unique and is the pride of Sunnyside.

An old rusted truck exterior is in the garden bed. Beside this is a bathtub. Last winter, night lights showered down into the bathtub. So called junk is turned into art.

The lawn between the sidewalk and the road is always cut into something. Last year it was mowed as a Tic-Tac-Toe game board. This year there is a circular maze.

Last summer, parked in front of her house was an old truck. This truck was different though. In the cab, there were tomatoes growing. In the back of the truck there was a garden with sunflowers, corn, oats, red flax, snap dragons, poppies, kale, zucchini and radishes growing. Could you imagine this in many other communities?

Karen’s latest masterpiece was unveiled last night. I just happened to be riding my bike past. Everyone that was riding their bike or walking by stopped too. Out in front of the house is what Karen describes as a “little old lady’s car full of pink flowers”. A Pontiac Strato Chief, a vintage boat of a car, has had it's trunk converted into garden with a solar powered water fountain. The car was rescued from a farm field that it had been residing in for the last nine years.

Barb Stewart, a neighbour, was walking by and stopped to admire Karen’s new creation. Stewart said, “it is always fun to come see - the maze, the Christmas decorations, the old car, the garden truck, the tic-tac-toe in the grass”. She later said, “it says something about Sunnyside. It is a place where you don’t feel you need to compete with your neighbour, like having a greener lawn than the next guy’s. I love walking around the neighbourhood (and seeing stuff like this)”. Me too.

The Calgary Cowbell would like to thank Karen for keeping Sunnyside fun, quirky and beautiful.