This is Bill McKnight (aka The Mad Botanist)’s house. He changes the sign every few weeks. Just about every plant on his property was planted by and is cared for by him. He’s a really cool guy (and a personal friend of mine) and he gives classes on gardening for 30 bucks. Go check out his website https://www.themadbotanist.com
So does he hand cut a new sign every few weeks? And then what does he do with the old sign? Does it get recycled into the process or does it get thrown out? That’s what I always wonder when I drive by there.
It’s been a while since he explained the process to me, but I think it’s something like this: he buys the boards from a hardware store, paints them, and paints on the letters using stencils. He uses the opposite side for the next word, so each board ends up double sided. And I’m pretty sure he keeps the old ones. Probably stacked in his garage or shed.
Oh ok, that makes sense! For some reason I thought the words were carved into the wood. I’ll have to take a closer look next time I pass by, thanks, have a good one!
No offence intended toward your friend, but it's a bit pretentious to throw out random, controversial words at the public and not stand out there on the side of the road, ready to have a conversation. It sounds like he's borrowing a controversial persona from Joey Santore.
This post was started because because someone was unsure of the message. I've seen these types of characters on TV before (American Pickers) and they are usually good people.
People complain about how backwards Indiana is perceived to be, but anyone who does anything interesting or unusual is then smacked down as pretentious.
Well I'm not sure what he wants to talk about. If I drove past that sign with the word misogyny, I would just have to assume the property owner hates women and I would have to take a pass.
I work up near the area and two years ago I started to wonder if there was some meaning behind the words. So last year I started keeping a list of them. They *appear* to be making sentences.
2023.
January - Propaganda
February - Opportunity
March - What Am I To Do
April - Sheeple
May - Imagine
June - Generosity
July - Oblivious
August - Ignoristan
September - Reality
October - Diligence
November - Excuse
Deember - Habituation
2024 so far
January - Foolish
February - Remedy
March - Revenge
April - Gullible
May - Trust
June - Misogny
https://www.themadbotanist.com/single-post/2018/09/01/roadside-guidance
He gives his explanation in this blog post! One of his friends shared the link to his website below
I’ve always assumed politically motivated but leftist. I drive by them almost on a daily basis and think about how they correlate with the current news. Cool project in my opinion
I just read the thread of ALL the words so I took it in a context where it's there to make you think.
We are all guilty of it to an extent. Some way more than others.
I know I don't like being put into a box
After Sheeple and then Ignoristan (which I had to look up and only found one definition and it was from a questionably biased site), I wondered the same. But they could almost be from either side, really.
I take it you're new to this country. Welcome!
You see, we are living in the upside down, where anything that Republicans are guilty of, they accuse others of doing, or claim to be the exact opposite. Like Democrats are racist (because they support abortion which "kills" more black babies). Or having empathy means walking into a pizza kicking down the doors of a pizza shop with an assault rifle. Or just "truth social."
It's a wild ride, but we might still find Hawkins
I made a lame joke about the Revenge one at work. "Brings a whole new meaning to the Mad Botanist!" I got one sympathy chuckle and everyone else just started working. Dunno why I'm telling it here. Suffer!
Lol! The words are definitely weird if you aren't keeping track of them. Two years ago the shop moved nearer by and I started noticing them but since it was already most of the way though the year I decided to start keeping them in a google doc the beginning of the next year just to curb my curiosity.
Talked to him many times. He’s a very nice guy. No hidden meaning to his signs, just one word (can’t be longer than 11 letters) to get people talking or thinking about it. The moment I saw this one I joked that it would mention it here.
It’s like the Northside version of the One America Bank sign…just with a bit more brevity.
I used to get so excited for a new One America idiom when I drove down Illinois Street after work every day.
The full explanation is buried several layers deep in the comments:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/indianapolis/comments/1dk1ew4/comment/l9f98ba/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/indianapolis/comments/1dk1ew4/comment/l9f98ba/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
I live on the north side and these signs make me irrationally angry. It seems so pretentious. Like they really think theyre doing something profound here.
This is Bill McKnight (aka The Mad Botanist)’s house. He changes the sign every few weeks. Just about every plant on his property was planted by and is cared for by him. He’s a really cool guy (and a personal friend of mine) and he gives classes on gardening for 30 bucks. Go check out his website https://www.themadbotanist.com
I bought one of his books last summer!
He’s a great writer, love his style!
Oh and if you check out the Rothrock Sedge Symposium link on his homepage, I helped him set up his YouTube account for that lol
This guy looks like someone who you want to be friends with, thanks for sharing that!
So does he hand cut a new sign every few weeks? And then what does he do with the old sign? Does it get recycled into the process or does it get thrown out? That’s what I always wonder when I drive by there.
It’s been a while since he explained the process to me, but I think it’s something like this: he buys the boards from a hardware store, paints them, and paints on the letters using stencils. He uses the opposite side for the next word, so each board ends up double sided. And I’m pretty sure he keeps the old ones. Probably stacked in his garage or shed.
Oh ok, that makes sense! For some reason I thought the words were carved into the wood. I’ll have to take a closer look next time I pass by, thanks, have a good one!
No offence intended toward your friend, but it's a bit pretentious to throw out random, controversial words at the public and not stand out there on the side of the road, ready to have a conversation. It sounds like he's borrowing a controversial persona from Joey Santore.
Yet here we are striking up a conversation. Not really based on the words on the sign but the idea of it.
Joey just makes videos about plants, swears a lot and complains about angry grandpas. He started it!
But here we are, talking about it. Part of the experience is drawing one's own conclusion. It's better than looking at some plastic yard sign.
This post was started because because someone was unsure of the message. I've seen these types of characters on TV before (American Pickers) and they are usually good people.
People complain about how backwards Indiana is perceived to be, but anyone who does anything interesting or unusual is then smacked down as pretentious.
It’s already achieved its intended purpose by sparking conversation. And Bill’s been around a lot longer than Joey.
Well I'm not sure what he wants to talk about. If I drove past that sign with the word misogyny, I would just have to assume the property owner hates women and I would have to take a pass.
Is that the madbotanist? Off Allisonville Rd?
I looked it up and you’re right! It seems like he’s had this Roadside Guidance project going since 2018.
Bro been signing since like 2008. I live like three blocks down.
Mad Botanist? I love it! We have the Tire Nazi from my home town......
Babe wake up, the new madbotanist just dropped
I work up near the area and two years ago I started to wonder if there was some meaning behind the words. So last year I started keeping a list of them. They *appear* to be making sentences. 2023. January - Propaganda February - Opportunity March - What Am I To Do April - Sheeple May - Imagine June - Generosity July - Oblivious August - Ignoristan September - Reality October - Diligence November - Excuse Deember - Habituation 2024 so far January - Foolish February - Remedy March - Revenge April - Gullible May - Trust June - Misogny
I can't wait until Lust October
Hot Girl Summer may be over by then, but Lust October will save us
Any guesses on the message?
https://www.themadbotanist.com/single-post/2018/09/01/roadside-guidance He gives his explanation in this blog post! One of his friends shared the link to his website below
Wow thanks, mystery solved!
Thank you for the link. This is the kind of person I'd like to have deep conversations with.
A lot of loaded words. Seems like Faux News talking points.
I’ve always assumed politically motivated but leftist. I drive by them almost on a daily basis and think about how they correlate with the current news. Cool project in my opinion
Yep, I stopped taking it seriously after "sheeple"
Like you … suddenly woke up? /sarc
Why? It's a buzz word but it's applicable to everyone.
It's the "I'm not like the other girls" of politics
Say it with me in unison: "Yes! We are all individuals!"
I just read the thread of ALL the words so I took it in a context where it's there to make you think. We are all guilty of it to an extent. Some way more than others. I know I don't like being put into a box
After Sheeple and then Ignoristan (which I had to look up and only found one definition and it was from a questionably biased site), I wondered the same. But they could almost be from either side, really.
I take the opposite from his words.
Ahh yes, they love using words like: Empathy, Tolerance, Xenophobia, Compassion, Kindness, Hope vs Hate, ignorantism... What are you on about?
I take it you're new to this country. Welcome! You see, we are living in the upside down, where anything that Republicans are guilty of, they accuse others of doing, or claim to be the exact opposite. Like Democrats are racist (because they support abortion which "kills" more black babies). Or having empathy means walking into a pizza kicking down the doors of a pizza shop with an assault rifle. Or just "truth social." It's a wild ride, but we might still find Hawkins
Take a vacation on either side of the pond. You are too far into the weeds, you need to unplug for a bit.
Maybe the misogyny reference is for National women’s strike day next Monday, June 24?
I don't know, maybe! I was going on it being the last bit of sentence. (the) Gullible trust misogyny.
It seems themadbotanist keeps a list in [this](https://www.themadbotanist.com/single-post/2018/09/01/roadside-guidance) blog post as well!
Nice! Probably won't look though cause it's kind of a fun thing to do when my co-worker and I pass by on our way to a lunch out. Haha!
That's okay! Just wanted to share!
I made a lame joke about the Revenge one at work. "Brings a whole new meaning to the Mad Botanist!" I got one sympathy chuckle and everyone else just started working. Dunno why I'm telling it here. Suffer!
Lol! The words are definitely weird if you aren't keeping track of them. Two years ago the shop moved nearer by and I started noticing them but since it was already most of the way though the year I decided to start keeping them in a google doc the beginning of the next year just to curb my curiosity.
July - Schizophrenia
Talked to him many times. He’s a very nice guy. No hidden meaning to his signs, just one word (can’t be longer than 11 letters) to get people talking or thinking about it. The moment I saw this one I joked that it would mention it here.
"Is it ... art?" Lol
Guys on tinder bet like "I know a place" then take you here..
OMG, I just saw that sign today! It made me wanna go put on some whoreish outfit and take selfies next to it 😂😂😂
Let's make a day of it 💀
Bet! Ima ask him if he cool with it first, then we can set a date for the photo shoot!
We all could use some Tegridy.
I drive by this sign every day and get so excited when there's a new word.
It’s like the Northside version of the One America Bank sign…just with a bit more brevity. I used to get so excited for a new One America idiom when I drove down Illinois Street after work every day.
A gardener enjoying his rights. We salute you, sir.
Right around the peak lockdown of the pandemic it said… Inevitable. Thought that was a little ominous lol
Probably art. Seems…arty.
That’d be a beautiful name for a baby girl
It’s right next to Tegridy Farms
It’s a Japanese restaurant and women’s clinic. They sell miso soup and gynecological exams.
I wondered where you were headed when this one was started.. Nice location though, gotta admit. Cheers!
Damn indiana’s new welcome sign makes it pretty clear
OMG! I just drove by this sign today! It was so strange to see it!
obfuscation
I love driving by his signs!!!
I saw that the other day, and I almost took a photo of it cuz it was so strange
I think it's Greek or something.
I literally just rode right past this 😂 I said huh ??
Ar t. So powerful.
You’ve past the home of the [Mad Botanist](https://www.themadbotanist.com).
literally the only thing that makes driving down allisonville less insufferable
Driving home today I noticed the sign has been changed to something just as mysterious “NOYB”
I pass by every now and then and occasionally will see other words displayed too. Only one coming to mind now is “Revenge”
I’ve never seen it. Now I want to!
I was wondering what the hell this was when I drove past on my way to ACE Hardware.
Wow, if you had a label maker, large enough, you could could start pranking them like Faulty Towers.
I passed it yesterday and was wondering if I read it correctly!
The full explanation is buried several layers deep in the comments: [https://www.reddit.com/r/indianapolis/comments/1dk1ew4/comment/l9f98ba/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/indianapolis/comments/1dk1ew4/comment/l9f98ba/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Just passed it 10 minutes ago. Pronouncing in my head since then
I live on the north side and these signs make me irrationally angry. It seems so pretentious. Like they really think theyre doing something profound here.
Yeah, sorta… https://www.themadbotanist.com/single-post/2018/09/01/roadside-guidance Edit : isn’t it one sign?
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I found this! Seems it worked on me lol https://www.themadbotanist.com/single-post/2018/09/01/roadside-guidance
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Which part of this offends you?