Happy Monday, RMT’ers! I met a new neighbor this weekend and wanted to share with all of you because it’s someone I’ve wanted to meet for about six months now, but time after time I kept just missing a chance to connect.

Anyone remember this post about the art/garden that T and I would pass by during our walks and bike rides in our area? Yes, I finally met the artist/gardener!

Meet Glen Mann, an artist/gardener who resides in the Rose Park neighborhood of Long Beach (CA). He’s the one responsible for all that awesome palm frond and other green artwork that T and I admired several months back.

His name is Glen Mann, and he lives in the building in which he beautifies on a daily basis. Not only that, Glen’s been preoccupied prettying up other nearby businesses and homes whenever he’s asked to, mostly based on requests from those who he’s come in contact with while engaged in his efforts. Last month he also was featured in the OC Register (about four months after my original blog post, but I digress), so awareness of his work has also grown beyond a wider audience than Rose Park residents and other passers-by.

Dragon under construction! Glen’s latest piece in progress in the Rose Park neighborhood of Long Beach (CA).

Glen told me that he’s had a few offers to help him open up a studio/workshop, but the locations just haven’t been a good fit as the offers have been for areas outside of Long Beach. He said he really wishes to keep creating inside of his hometown, but of course he’s happy to spread his work to those well outside the area as interest blossoms. In fact, on Saturday when T and I ran into Glen, he was busy starting a new fish sculpture for a fan in Japan who just happened to see some of his work in photos on social media pages.

Glen posed in front of a cork board where he displays the many thank you notes and other accolades from neighbors and others whom he’s crafted his flocks of beauty for over the last several months.

I’m trying to get some more information from Glen about how to see more of his work on a regular basis (i.e., social media or other websites), but for now, you can stop by anytime you see him out front of his building at 6th-Redondo to chat him up about the pieces you see there or for anything else you want made for you or someone else.

Glen also displays a note with information on what types of donations he’d be most grateful for, along with his phone number where you can text or call him to let him know if you are having yard work done. Sounds like he’s willing to come to you and pick up and haul off green waste he can use in his pieces.

He also is still doing most if not all of these works at no charge; he considers this his special way of giving back to the community by spreading smiles and happy feelings to others.

Now that’s paying (or planting?) it forward… Thanks again for all you do, Glen!

Want to walk by this wonderful work of art yourself? Come to the Rose Park neighborhood of Long Beach (CA) and head over to 605 Redondo Ave. (at 6th Street). The garden is on the Northwest corner along the perimeter of the condominium building, mostly along the Redondo Avenue side. That’s also where you can find a cork board with more information, or perhaps you might even get a peek of the artist at work! If you don’t see Glen but want to get in touch with him to make a materials donation or request a particular piece, please feel free to send him a text at 562 234 5928.