On Guerrilla Gardening

Anyone who know me knows I love plants and gardens. I talk to all my friends and co-workers and relatives and sometimes complete strangers, so I guess that means that people who don't even know me know this. Then it should probably not come as a surprise then that I need to confess that I have a secret love of guerrilla gardening.

See this picture? Yes, it's me. Shhhhh. It's my shadow, taking a picture of seedlings I planted -- specifically, morning glories -- planted somewhere that people neither knew nor expected morning glories to be. Somewhere where after they bloom, tangles of blue and mauve circles of petals and vines will turn a rather unattractive spot of land into a softer, lovelier rise, rather than the dirt mound that it is currently. Assuming they do thrive and bloom, those bursts of wandering color will surprise those who notice, hopefully offering delight. Many won't notice, but perhaps, those who do will find it magical. Did I ask permission? No, though if it comes to it, I will ask forgiveness. It's totally worth the small risk. And THAT is what guerrilla gardening is.

All over the world, lots of folks do it, lots of them to grow food. Yes, they are doing this in places that they do not have the legal right to. It's a movement based on some radical notions about land use of public space and the desire for beauty AND food justice. Is this beginning to sound like familiar theme? Absolutely.

It's not for everyone. BUT...think about it. Doesn't the idea of throwing seed balls (yes, this is a thing) somewhere sound fun? Think about it. You can drop seeds -- especially seeds like morning glories which honestly, are ridiculously hardy -- and keep checking the space until they sprout...then grow...then bloom. You are the artist and as long as you keep your mouth shut, no one will know WHERE those flowers came from. Did someone from The City/Headquarters/Operations/Groundskeeping put those in? No? Well, then, how did they get there? And you can smile, knowing, that it was that it was *you*.

Your encore for the day? Go spread some magic. Shhhh, it will be our little secret.