Miracle on 28th Street

A minor miracle, just an urban meadow.

This is a large medical complex that has been undergoing lots of construction and expansion of new hospital wings. The meadow,
although just adjacent to the entrance, is slightly below grade and ringed with big plants like phormium and strelitzia, so unless
you’re on the sidewalk, it remains unseen from the street.

A decomposed granite path winds through the center.

Anigozanthus, kangaroo paws, is planted on the perimeter at this viewing area. It will be interesting to see how these bulky
perimeter plantings mitigate the lack of interest the meadow will hold in its off season, which would seem to be the intent.

A glimpse of the Purple Orchid tree, bauhinia, to the left of the corrugated palm trunks.

One of Nancy Goslee Power’s favorite plants, strelitzia, the Bird of Paradise. I confess it has never been one of mine,
most likely a simple case of familiarity breeding contempt.

I could find no information on this meadow, how or why it was planted, if it’s temporary or a permanent
feature. Although deceptively simple in appearance, a meadow can be tricky to get started. This one had
a few bare patches where germination was poor. Although lupines and California poppies predominate,
there was clarkia, gilia, dimorpotheca.

But oh, those lupines!