Neighbors pitch in to perk up Macon's The Prado

The idea for The Prado's new plantings first sprouted at last year's neighborhood Christmas party.

Emmy Argo had heard stories about the beautiful islands of azaleas that drew prom couples for photographs decades ago.

"Older neighbors who have been on this street 30-plus years showed us a scrapbook of what it used to look like and, I mean, it was just covered in azaleas and little trees," said Argo, who first fell in love with the street years ago while visiting her fiance's brother.

"I always remember thinking, 'Gosh, that's the cutest street. I love the islands and the houses are so charming,'" she said Sunday after tossing some more pine straw on the freshly planted beds of pink and white Encore azaleas.

Since May 2014 when Emmy and Watson Argo bought their first home on the divided street, they have wanted to restore its public parks.

After last year's holidays, the "Island Beautification Project" took root and the Argos distributed fliers to all their neighbors.

More than $5,000 came in to pay for the plants.

Watson Argo put his landscape design skills to work and came up with the plan for dozens of plantings.

In addition to the flowering shrubs that should bloom through summer into fall, he chose October Glory maple trees which will turn a brilliant orange-red in the fall.

Okame cherry trees will add Macon's signature blossom to the landscape in spring and a live oak will grow in the triangle near Overlook.

"We're really kind of set for year-round beauty," Watson Argo said after tweaking the sprinkler systems in the strips of county park.

Macon-Bibb Commissioner Mallory Jones and Parks and Beautification Director Steve Lawson made sure the irrigation systems were working before Saturday's planting.

Argo was still testing the timers on Sunday as his wife walked their boxer, Louie, along the median.

"Irrigation was huge. If we hadn't had the irrigation we couldn't have done the job, so it was so great of the city to support us, and to get out here just as soon as we asked, and start working to repair the irrigation which hadn't been on for years," Emmy Argo said.

With 100 azaleas to install, neighbors gathered at the Argo home at 9 a.m. Saturday morning for bagels, coffee and juice.

After reviewing the plan, they got to work clearing some of the old shrubs.

"We had lots of shovels, lots of pairs of gloves," Emmy Argo said. "The men were going ahead of us and digging the holes and the women were coming behind and filling in with the azaleas."

Some of the young children on the street pitched in and older neighbors voiced their approval from their front porches.

Sam Alderman came out Sunday to check the beds.

"It was fantastic," Alderman said of the community effort. "It's just a wonderful street and yesterday was a testament to why we love living here."

He was most grateful for the gas-powered auger to dig the holes.

The Argos' next-door neighbor told them, "I slept great last night," as he pulled into his driveway.

He offered his help again for future projects.

Next weekend, the neighbors will be putting the 21 trees in the ground.

Alderman can't wait to see them.

"I truly love this neighborhood," he said. "I love the architecture, but the people are fantastic."

As Betsy Bier was raking leaves Sunday afternoon, another neighbor came by with his leaf-blower to help her out.

Residents also helped Bier hang Christmas wreaths on the lamp posts this year, which had been her late husband's task until he died in February.

Not only did so many people want to help, Emmy Argo is already getting rave reviews about the teamwork and beautification effort.

"Everybody loved it. We had a great turnout and a lot of people showed up to support financially and doing the work, and it turned out really great,"

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 and follow her on Twitter@liz_lines.

This story was originally published December 13, 2015 at 9:56 PM with the headline "Neighbors pitch in to perk up Macon's The Prado ."