People who live near or regularly drive along Prospect across from Times Ten Cellars have probably wondered about the tall structures erected in front of the street’s pink stucco Mediterranean-style home: What do those brightly colored flags mean? Are they art? Do they perform some sort of function? The people behind this neighborhood mystery are Jaime and Lori Smith, a globetrotting couple who purchased the home eight years ago before beginning frequent trips to various parts of Asia. “The banners in our yard are Tibetan prayer flags, or ‘panjores,’” Lori says. “They are commonly placed in front of the temples in Bali and in celebration of something. We put them up about two years ago when our daughter got married. They remind us of the beautiful places we visit on our trips.” The Smiths not only share a passion for traveling, but for collecting as well. They own Big Mango Trading Company, which specializes in importing home furnishings, architectural pieces and exotic fare from Asia. “We offer variations of the flags at our store,” Lori says. “Jaime is a designer and likes to change up the colors in summer and fall.” The couple says they believe that while the concept is different, the message is always the same — a silent prayer for peace and happiness.
For more information on the Smiths’ company, visit bigmangotrading.com.
