How a Chicago Police Officer Transformed His Backyard Into an Award-W…

It’s never too late to start a hobby.

In Garfield Park, Chicago police Officer Deronis Cooper uses his love of gardening as an outlet for his mental health.

“Back then, I couldn’t even imagine this,” Cooper said. “None of this was here. … I started with four planters, and I was just trying to keep those alive, and upon keeping those alive, it just grew, and I would find more places to put plants.”

What started with four planters has grown into more than 50 plant species in Cooper’s backyard.

“When I was a kid, I used to help my grandmother,” Cooper explained. “Her garden was a vegetable garden. Back then, it was more like a chore than a love.”

But over the years, Cooper’s love for plants has grown. Literally. He calls it his grandma’s garden in honor of her memory.

Cooper said getting his hands in the dirt helps him cope with the challenges of being a police officer.

“You can come home and shed your uniform. You can shed the duty belt, but you can’t…