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One Man's Garden, a Global Heart O n a sloping parcel of state-owned land two blocks from Moonlight Beach, where the breeze carries the scent of salt and eucalyptus, a small miracle has been unfolding for more than a decade. It did not begin with a plan, a grant, or a committee. It began with one man standing alone on B Street. In 2015, longtime Encinitas resident Dave Dean found himself in an unexpected standoff with the city. e stretch of curb between Second and ird on B Street, long used for parking by beachgoers, had suddenly become a ticket trap. ere were no signs and no red paint, just citations. When Dean asked why, both an officer and the Sheriff 's Department said they were "doing what they were told." For a week he stood on the curb, warning drivers not to park there, and gathering 1,287 signatures, which he took to the City Council. e city relented, eventually painting the curb red. But with the parking issue resolved, Dean found he no longer had anyone to talk to, so he started picking up trash. en he pulled weeds. And when the weeds were gone, he planted drought-tolerant succulents. e city issued a cease-and-desist order, giving him two weeks to remove everything. Dean did not immediately respond. He detour destinations Transforming an overlooked hillside into an international symbol of creativity, kindness, and connection BY BILL ABRAMS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONALD MIRALLE ranchandcoast.com 74 AUGUST 2026 RANCH & COAST MAGAZINE