She's no professional gardener, but Pam Rose sees Eastland as her greenhouse.
"We're made up of different colors and it brings out happiness in your soul when you see colors," said Rose.
The Cisco native noticed the area wasn't being properly taken care of.
"Weeds growing up around the square, old leaves were on the sidewalk that no one cleaned off, it just seemed that we didn't care anymore," she said.
So she took it on herself to start the old toads- a volunteer group dedicated to planting flowers all around the downtown area.
The full-time nurse says its more than just charity- it's a job.
"This is my community, this is where I live and I am obligated to be a keeper of my community," she said.
Just walk around downtown Eastland and you'll see a variety of pots and plants all set up by the old toads and now they're even inspiring local businesses to do the same.
"It's like the awakening of a giant and I think were going to be better people," said Rose.
They've received support from all over the community- from grants to volunteers to help them maintain and water the plants whenever they can't.
Even the city officials have noticed the impact the group has made on the city.
"Whenever we help people that are coming into town and see a very pleasing esthetic look to the city then it makes them want to come back," said Cecil Funderburgh of the Eastland Chamber of Commerce.
Rose uses her days off to paint light fixtures, pull weeds and make sure all the flowers are blooming.
The 58 year-old says wants to see her community as a place everyone can be proud to call home.
I think our sense of pride has started to come back.
"Its a pride that's beginning to bloom all over the city," she said.
"We're made up of different colors and it brings out happiness in your soul when you see colors," said Rose.
The Cisco native noticed the area wasn't being properly taken care of.
"Weeds growing up around the square, old leaves were on the sidewalk that no one cleaned off, it just seemed that we didn't care anymore," she said.
So she took it on herself to start the old toads- a volunteer group dedicated to planting flowers all around the downtown area.
The full-time nurse says its more than just charity- it's a job.
"This is my community, this is where I live and I am obligated to be a keeper of my community," she said.
Just walk around downtown Eastland and you'll see a variety of pots and plants all set up by the old toads and now they're even inspiring local businesses to do the same.
"It's like the awakening of a giant and I think were going to be better people," said Rose.
They've received support from all over the community- from grants to volunteers to help them maintain and water the plants whenever they can't.
Even the city officials have noticed the impact the group has made on the city.
"Whenever we help people that are coming into town and see a very pleasing esthetic look to the city then it makes them want to come back," said Cecil Funderburgh of the Eastland Chamber of Commerce.
Rose uses her days off to paint light fixtures, pull weeds and make sure all the flowers are blooming.
The 58 year-old says wants to see her community as a place everyone can be proud to call home.
I think our sense of pride has started to come back.
"Its a pride that's beginning to bloom all over the city," she said.
