Studies have shown that planting trees can reduce traffic accidents, deter crime, and improve property values.
While many gardens are managed by professional landscapers, some towns rely on volunteers to plant, weed, and care for plantings on traffic islands, town greens, and other areas of the neighborhood.
In Boston, Mayor Thomas Menino distributes daffodil bulbs each fall to residents willing to plant them in city-owned green spaces all over Boston's neighborhoods. When spring breaks, Bostonians all over the city are treated to hundreds of thousands of yellow and white blooms.
In Kansas City, Missouri, residents have planted over 250,000 tulip bulbs over the past five years in memory of Kansas City's first medical doctor Benoist Troost.
Families can join already established community gardening organizations or team up with neighbors to start a new project, such as greening an abandoned lot.
