In the dense urban space of HIGHLAND PARK, it was rarely obvious who owned or maintained each space. In many instances I had to work hard to track down the people who were maintaining our urban spaces, to let them know to allow the poppies to grow. What survives on the street is the result of an accumulation of often unspoken decisions made by neighbors, gardeners, and the city.

Many subtle things are always happening on the street. I wondered how many residents of these neighborhoods might become attentive to the subtle life cycle of this native flower?

Most people who stopped to chat assumed my goal was urban beautification, and many thanked me.

I noticed that newcomers to the neighborhood showed less interest or encouragement. They were busy making artworks that would be sold elsewhere?

Looking back at this project, from the vantagepoint of 2021, when many of the personalities and businesses I worked with have moved on or been displaced, it is like remembering a different era on York Boulevard.

During the weeks of peak bloom, golden petals would drift down the sidewalk.