Man Uses Green Thumb to Brighten Up LA Neighborhood

Brent Green has loved plants since he was a little boy, and now his passion is helping to transform his community in the Mid-City district of Los Angeles.

When he bought his first house six years ago, Green and his wife Cheryl decided to liven up their home on a barren and neglected lawn by adding lush flowers, plants and trees.

Neighbors were so impressed with the results that Green wanted to spread the inspiration.

Green was already on a mission. Eleven years ago, on his 30th birthday, Green decided to plant 30 trees in Los Angeles to give something back to the city, CBS News reports. Each subsequent year, he has carried on the tradition.

In Mid-City, the results of this beautification are tangible. Green's positive attitude has inspired neighbors to come together to keep the streets clean and help tend the plants. According to CBS News, crime in Mid-Town has also dropped more than 29 percent since Green began his mission.

"We call him the neighborhood mayor," local resident Kendra Sheppard told Sunset magazine. "He's the kind of guy you don't want to let down."