What began as a garage mural dream, quickly blossomed into something far more meaningful: a colorful, ever-growing community art project created by neighbors, artists, generosity, and a shared belief that beauty belongs everywhere.
It all started in August 2019 when we finally pulled the trigger on something we had always dreamed of: a mural on our garage in the alley! We've always wanted one. Then one day, while we were out of town, I saw on socials that Jules Muck — @muckrock — had just passed through Indianapolis and was already heading north. On impulse, I messaged her and begged her to turn back around for us. But one garage mural alone wasn’t enough to convince her to reroute... So we roped in our neighbors Chad & Adolphus, AKA Chadolphus, through a string of texts knowing they had shared their intention of having their nephew paint a rose on their garage! Our then recently new neighbor Mary was an immediate YES as she too always dreamed of a mural! #kindredspirits
At that point, my wheels really started turning. Behind us stood the old barn — weathered, iconic, impossible to ignore. I remember staring at it thinking: if we could get them on board too— this could become the start of something bigger!
I sent my husband Alan over to talk to Dan, the owner of the barn back then. (I’m not much of a spokes/sales/person myself;) Dan wasn’t opposed to the idea, but understandably hesitant — especially under the time pressure. Jules moves fast. She sweeps into a city and can complete a mural in a day or two before moving on again. There wasn’t much time for lengthy deliberation.
When cost became the biggest obstacle keeping him from saying yes, we offered to split it with him, knowing this would become a lasting gift — not only to ourselves, but to the entire community.
And just like that, the seeds of the Broad Ripple Flower Alley were planted.
Over the following years, we continued spreading the word, organizing itineraries for Jules to return and paint additional murals, while also inviting local artists to join the movement! In some cases, I created Photoshop mockups of proposed floral murals for homeowners who needed help visualizing what their garages could become — just like I had once done for our own mural. Each visit, we hosted Jules and her crew in our @ripplebnb Airbnbs as part of our investment in helping the alley continue to grow. Over time, we’ve also financially supplemented several murals ourselves to help them reach their full potential in both scale and impact.
Taking a life of its own, the Broad Ripple Flower Alley— has inspired many great things since… Graduation, family, wedding or seasonal photo shoots, wedding rehearsal dinners, community gatherings and of course the now notorious SPRING & FALL REVIVALS by Jim Korn offering live music in the alley for our beloved community. Don't miss out on the next one!
Bring a smile and come feel the love!
None of this could have happened without the partnership of Chad Fallis
and Adolphus Fifer known as the glue of this community...
They are naturals at bringing people together and on board!
Chad is also the very one that gifted the flower alley with the stellar concept of each of us naming our flower murals “be …” to add meaning. They named theirs “Be love”
—which, they are! Pure Love.
A blessing to this neighborhood and community!
Thank you Chad & Adolphus!
& certainly,
None of this would have been possible without Jules Muck!
It takes a rare combined mixture of skills to create such movement:
incredible TALENT, extreme FLEXIBILITY to work with a variety of people (some having no idea of what they want requiring her full input and creativity to people that have an exact vision to execute,) and SPEED:
Creating an alley like this one needed MOMENTUM! Jules has all of it.
Thank you Jules!
To all the amazing mural artists that have since joined in and helped grow/spread the flower alley movement!
We love and appreciate you!
& Last but not least THE BIGGEST THANK YOU
to all our wonderful neighbors that have since part taken and invested in the #broadripplefloweralley project, by beautifying our community through painting giant flower murals onto their properties!
The amazing neighborly love, kindred spirits, help and support have made this a blessed alley.
There is no better time then now to come together through smiles...
~ Deborah Jacobs @ripplebnb,
Broad Ripple short term rentals design and management,
Orchestrator of the Broad Ripple Flower Alley...
Come check out the flower murals in Broad Ripple Flower Alley!
#broadripplefloweralley