I’ve just come across an amazing initiative called ‘Wildflowering L.A.’ by artist Fritz Haeg.  As part of this inspiring project presented by Los Angeles Nomadic Division (LAND) vacant and unused plots of land across Los Angeles County will be blooming with native wildflowers next Spring.  50 sites chosen to participate will be sown with native wildflower seeds and put on display for the public to enjoy. Owners of the selected sites are given one of four custom wildflower seed mixes is prescribed, Coastal, Flatlands, Hillside, and Roadside inspired by Reyner Banham’s 1971 book, Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies. Each of the participating sites is officially identified with a prominent carved wood sign stating what type of seed mix is used.  Locals came together to clear and seed vacant lots in their neighborhood as well as road medians, bringing the community together to preserve and enhance the original landscape.The project helps fight urban blight by beautifying underused land and will culminate with a public exhibition in Spring 2014.  For more information on the project see here.

This is such a wonderful idea and could easily be applied to any Australian city where the concrete to green ratio is less than ideal.  Our beautiful Australian natives thrive in drought & hot conditions and would beautify any parking lot or concrete median strip not to mention the benefits of getting the community together and involved.

“Age-defying thirsty landscapes of clipped evergreen shrubbery and lawns cover this city that supposedly has no seasons, no sense of time, combined with a denial of death and aging. However, the story of the native wildflowers of Los Angeles is more complex, nuanced, localized, and ever-changing. Long-anticipated early winter rains germinate seeds that have been lying in wait, buried in dry soils from the low coasts to the high deserts, from the valley flats to the mountain slopes. Gradual growth with cool temperatures and low sun through winter months give way to an early spring explosion of bright green and rainbow color. The story of the seasons is told by the timing and extent of the bloom in direct proportion to the rainfall, temperatures, and climate. The plants turn a crisp golden brown as the dry summer months return, and the flowers prepare to broadcast their seeds for next year’s story.”

-Fritz Haeg

All photos from LA Weekly
All information from Take Part & LAND