Sow Stealthy

Gardeners seem to have a hard time coloring inside the lines. We see empty space and think "needs plants", even if that space belongs to someone else.

With permission we have taken over a city park, neighbors' empty plots and fences, and have drifted across property lines, but we want more and so do many gardeners the world over. The term guerilla gardening seems to have started in New York in 1973 with a group calling themselves Green Guerillas. The concept was not original to them however. A classic early example of someone who took the job of planting on public space into their own hands - John Chapman, AKA Johnny Appleseed.

Guerilla gardening comes in many forms. Unsightly medians, underpasses, and roadsides are prime targets for beautification. Some guerilla gardeners plant areas that they continue to tend, others sow and let go. Sunflower seed planting is a popular annual activity of many, and especially of Londoner Richard Reynolds, founder of guerillagardening.org , who never travels around the city without his pockets full of seed. The sunflower's ability to take root and thrive in adverse situations seems to be as much a symbol of the urban spirit as colorful embellishment of otherwise drab and unloved bits of earth.

The anonymity and relative unintrusiveness of seed bombing (despite the serious intrusiveness that the name of the activity implies) has us intrigued. Home made seed bombs are relatively easy to make, and in some parts of the country they can even be purchased from vending machines. California is one of those places, of course.

We love the idea of lobbing a chunk of soil and seed causing an explosive burst of blooms when Spring arrives. A bike ride might be the perfect cover for this mission and, if necessary, we can pedal much faster than we can run.




Okay, here goes. We'll start with seed from end-of-year greenhouse clearance sales, freebies from gardening seminars, and seed heads of natives from our own garden. Coneflower, Brown Eyed Susan, Big Leaf Aster, and Rudbeckia shown here. No invasives of course.




Add soil, compost, and perhaps some time release fertilizer. Then mix with just enough water to allow the soil to hold a shape. Form balls of desired size. Let dry a few days. Pump up the bike tires and load up the paniers.

Bombsaway!