An old truck with a new purpose
In a world that can often bring us stories of sadness, cruelty, and suffering, it’s comforting to know that goodness and light still exist.
Along Highway 55 between Buffalo and Rockford, nestled on a lawn of lush green grass, sits an old 1951 Chevy pickup truck that has captured the hearts of countless passersby. But it’s not just any vintage vehicle, it’s what fills the bed of the old truck that truly brings it to life: a handcrafted, cascading arrangement of blossoms, vines, and vibrant petals that serve to spread joy, one flower at a time.
Perhaps you’ve driven past the old truck, and it’s caught your eye. Maybe it brought a smile to your face and brightened your day. That’s how one anonymous motorist felt as they drove down the highway before pulling off the road and delivering a note of gratitude and appreciation to the mailbox of Greg and Michele Mathews.
“I put flowers in old containers in the back of the truck in the summer,” shared Michele. “We received this note in our mailbox one day, and it brought tears to our eyes. It was like, oh my gosh… we just cried. I got goosebumps. It’s amazing that someone took the time to let us know how much they appreciate what they see. The world needs to slow down and smell the flowers more often.”
Greg and Michele have owned the pickup for the past few years. “My husband saw the truck on marketplace, and we drove all the way up to Fort Ripley to get it. He said we needed to have this out there, so we paid big bucks for this old truck,” said Michele, who waters the abundance of flowers on a near-daily basis. “I don’t even have water out there. I have to haul seven five-gallon pails almost every day in the back of a golf cart to water all the flowers. It’s a lot of work.”
The ‘51 Chevy originally had a dump bed on the back before Greg and Michele replaced it with a traditional style bed. “We had to put a new flatbed on the back of it because it was one that you had to dump like an old dump truck. We had people stop by wanting to buy the truck for weeks on end. We kept putting signs on it to say it wasn’t for sale, but they wanted to buy it anyway,” Michele laughed.
During the Christmas season, the pickup is decked out with solar powered decorative lights. “We put a tree in the middle and lights all around it. It’s amazing, people will stop at Christmas time and say, ‘do you mind if we stop and take pictures.’”
In the fall season, Michele said that the pickup dons themes of pumpkins, scarecrows, and a variety of autumn decorations. “I like to give to people. It just makes me feel good.”
In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Greg and Michele’s 1951 Chevy pickup and seasonal displays are a reminder for us all to stop and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. True beauty doesn’t have to shout to be powerful. Often, it just needs roots, elbow grease, and a little room to grow.
In a society that moves fast and often forgets to look up, the flower-filled Chevy is a gentle invitation to slow down, take notice, and reconnect. With every bloom, with every smile it inspires, the truck reminds us that joy doesn’t need a grand stage—it just needs a willing heart and a few flowers in the back of an old truck.
To all those out there like Greg and Michele, working to make the world a brighter place, we see you, we acknowledge your efforts, and we thank you.
