Iris Logan, a 70-year-old resident of St. Paul, Minnesota, has turned her front yard into a captivating mosaic of stones, statues, and decorative art over the course of more than 30 years. However, what has become a local landmark is seen quite differently by city inspectors, who consider it a nuisance and have issued a notice for her to clean up the yard. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that the City Council is scheduled to address the matter on December 6.
Logan’s unique yard decor has its origins in a road repair project that forced her to create the mosaic in the first place. During the project, workers dug deep around one of her trees, exposing its roots. To address the issue, Logan brought in bricks, dirt, planted flowers, and added stones. Over the years, her decorative additions continued to grow.
“I’m a rock lover,” explained Logan, who hails from Mississippi and used to work as a cotton sharecropper. “I’m not going to lie. If I see a rock I like, I try and roll it in my car on a two-by-four.”
Recently, Logan received written notice stating that a city official would recommend to the City Council that she be given until December 22 to clean up her yard. In response, Logan appealed the order in a handwritten letter filling six pages of a spiral notebook. She argued that her decorative stones do not extend into the street or obstruct plow trucks or other city vehicles.
“I just want to make a stand for the next person,” Logan stated, as she received a supportive honk and wave from a passing neighbor.
Casey Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the St. Paul Department of Safety and Inspections, indicated that approximately 16 other properties on the same avenue received similar letters advising them to remove obstructions to comply with city code. Rodriguez explained that boulevards should generally be clear of installations or obstructions like benches and large rocks to ensure access to buried utility lines and to maintain clear tree roots and space for snow removal in the winter.
In support of Logan, a petition gathered 150 signatures within a few hours earlier this month. Justin Lewandowski, a community organizer residing near Logan, expressed hope that the City Council would clarify rules regarding portable planters. Lewandowski emphasized that the quick support from neighbors indicated the significance of Logan’s art to the community, viewing it as a reflection of their identity and engagement with city policy beyond aesthetics.