Spot This Adorable Flower Cart on the East Side

Around where Doyle Avenue meets Hope Street is where – if you’re lucky – Annie Phillips might have her sidewalk flower cart filled and ready for business. An unexpected and delightful sight, the wheeled contraption is outfitted to hold vases (upcycled beer cans) bursting with a mix of vibrant blooms. Phillips lives in the multi-family behind the display, one of two mirror-image properties built in the 1890s by the Gilbane family for their twin daughters. While Phillips rents, she has indeed taken ownership of the grounds, making great use of her Master Gardener education from URI by planting everything from heirloom vegetables to a vast array of perennials. When not tending to her gardens, Phillips can be found enjoying life with her Rhodesian Ridgeback, Thando, who “is a big help and provides security” when she’s out before dawn. The cart runs on the honor system but Phillips has rarely had anyone steal. “When I first started, people told me I was crazy for trusting people, but I feel like if you put trust out there it comes back to you,” she says. “I love living in Providence and love that my garden provides so much pleasure for all.”