Back during my hard-working corporate days, I used to hike the I-Shores stretch of Summit each weekday morning to rendezvous with my awaiting vanpool. In wearing a path from Top Pot to Starbucks each morning, I came to know the route quite well, and learned that it is, for the most part, a boring walk. One of the few things that stood out along the way was the nicely manicured traffic circle at the corner of Summit & Harrison. This is the only traffic circle along this fairly busy stretch of Summit, and I suspect it was put in place to challenge the sobriety of the #14 bus driver.

One morning, while counting how many shoes were hanging from the power lines, I noticed a woman walking toward the traffic circle hefting a large bucket of water. She proceeded to douse the carefully arranged flora in the circle, and then returned a nearby apartment building. I found it curious that a seemingly private citizen would take on the task of traffic circle gardening. Doesn’t the city do that?

As I walked past the circle in full bloom today, I felt the urge to learn more about these decorative road impediments. All I ever wanted to know and more was published on the Seattle Department of Transportation Web site. There I learned that a neighborhood’s residents can request a traffic circle at a specific intersection. If there is a sufficient history of traffic incidents at that intersection, the city will consider placing a traffic circle there. However, unless a person or group volunteers to maintain plantings in the circle, the city will pave the new circle rather than plant a garden there.

Given the asphalt alternative, I applaud this woman’s dedication to public beautification. Unfortunately, not all traffic circles are so lucky. Some poor circles lay abandoned. Orphaned. Here’s the scoop from the SDOT site: [Cue the sappy music and the Sally Struthers voiceover]

“Often volunteers move or are no longer able to maintain the circle. The resulting ‘orphan’ circles wait until an interested neighbor comes to their rescue.

If your nearby traffic circle has been orphaned, you may want to consider becoming a traffic circle garden volunteer. The process is easy! Simply call the TREE LINE at 684-TREE to let us know of your interest. You will be requested to fill out a no- fee “Beautification Permit” with your contact information. You will also get information about the types of plants that are appropriate for circles and how to maintain the area.

Traffic Circle volunteers receive a tip-filled newsletter about once a year. They are also invited to attend Traffic Circle volunteer events and to enter annual award contests.”

So if you notice your neighborhood traffic circle looking sad and dry and want to do something about it, or if you just feel the need to register for your own “Beautification Permit”, I encourage you to sign up here.

Does anybody out there maintain a traffic circle?