Houston, Texas: The Flower Man (Gone)

Happy-go-lucky Cleveland Turner (1935-2013), the "Flower Man," lived in a house covered with colorful junk that others have thrown away.

Cleveland Turner (1935-2013) welcomed all visitors and would tell amazing stories of his journey from skid row bum to Houston folk artist. Video from our 2002 visit.

I remember stumbling upon The Flower Man's place by happenstance. As I was taking pictures, he came outside and basically said "go ahead." I introduced myself and had the good fortune to be invited inside to his living room, which was also filled with artifacts. The second time I stopped by he was sitting out front with a friend of his. I hung out for a while. He was a very dear man and it was apparent that he had a lot of friends.

It was obvious that the house was gone when I visited a couple of years ago. The new location had yet to be posted on this site so I approached three guys who were outside and they gave me directions. I was disillusioned when I saw the new house because it was apparent that old age had caught up to him. The new location was a shadow of the previous one and there was a sign requesting something to the effect that people not knock on his door. But I still have memories of the old place and the man behind it.

This is a must see if in the Houston area. We were fortunate to be able to meet the Flower Man in person. He allowed us into his home and yard. The pictures we took are constantly showing us all the stuff we missed. The Flower Man has really brightened this neighborhood.

Cleveland "Flower Man" Turner is a former drunk who promised God he'd dedicate his life as a sober man to creating a place of uncommon beauty. Turner's home and yard in the Third Ward are a riot of flowers and scavenged junk, fruit trees and found objects.

The Flower Man survives occasional tussles with the city and the law, who threaten to fine him for infractions such as encroaching on the sidewalk and drainage ditches in front of his house.

This house is in one of the most economically depressed areas in recent memory, but it has created a sort of virus and others are decorating on that same street. The fact that these people obviously are dirt poor, but still have this wacky sense of self-expression and vigor is really beautiful to me.