garden location: Downtown Los Angeles, intersection of 3rd and Main, North East corner (map)

Downtown gets a little greener with help from some friends. We broke ground on our li'l slice of GG paradise August 1 2008. Still growing strong, stronger and stronger as months go by. Our plot started as a 12' circle of barren soil inside a raised planter at the corner of 3rd and Main. Our planter is one of three on that corner, all city owned. The other two hold trees, their shade drawing sojourners and homeless peeps. Word on the street says our planter's tree was split clean in two by lightening months ago, leaving flat sandy soil waiting.

We started off with plants donated by the good folks from Solano Community Garden, cuttings from numerous roadside sources, and transplants from wild patches of uber abundance. The wild transplants have grown like mad: hardy succulents like Jade and other puppies I can't name. We've used only drought-resistant plants. Later we added store bought beauties like ornamental onion, jasmine, buckwheat and English garden thyme. Decorative cool stuff appears, then disappears, given then taken by neighborhood characters: a plastic indian lawn ornament, royal blue wicker tower, 4 foot cheerful scarecrow (I suppose to scare away the pigeons who've managed to strip bare every soft leaf we planted).

Lady Bird Johnson GG'd here first
Gallery owner Burt Green (website) gave us this gem of history about our garden's planter. Back in the day, Lady Bird Johnson -- madam VP -- started a movement to beautify American cities via spontaneous citizen gardening. Lore has it that Lady Bird and Jaquie Kennedy built our planter while their hubbies sipped martinis in a nearby limo. Shoot us an email if you know more about this or can help research the history. So, we're fulfilling the planter's original purpose. People who call that corner home -- camped out on wheelchairs or chilling from nearby SRO's -- thank us every time we show up. Feels really good.

Lots of ways to get involved
1) plant with us
2) water once a week
3) donate plants, cuttings, or $moola to buy stuff
4) organize local galleries to sponsor our Gallery Row Guerrilla Garden
5) play music, perform, or host an art show during Artwalk, right at the garden
6) start another guerrilla garden downtown, we can help with inspiration, advice, energy, love, etc.
Contact the Downtown LA troop and we'll get back to you.

July 08, how it all began

Aug 08, our first planting

Nov 08, these rocks appeared just as we'd been longing for rocks (photo:Dave Bullock / eecue)

Nov 08, we cart water here, neighbors pitch in too. Plants are getting bigger, stronger. (photo:Dave Bullock / eecue)

Nov 08, Penpen and BigG plant goodies in honor of QuietEarth's bday (thanks guys) (photo:Dave Bullock / eecue)

Nov 08, Trix the wonder dog makes everything possible (photo:Dave Bullock / eecue)

Nov 08, Our humble photographer (photo:Dave Bullock / eecue)

Aug 08, Mr. Crackhead who stomps on plants: why not grow stuff instead of destroying? Peace out, dude. (photo:Dave Bullock / eecue)