"Wildflowering L.A. was a native wildflower seed planting initiative throughout Los Angeles County, begun in October 2013 by artist Fritz Haeg.
Wildflowering L.A. brought a wild and beautiful seasonal native landscape to open plots of land throughout Los Angeles County. 50 sites were selected from an open call based on public visibility and distribution across the county. Owners of selected sites were given free native wildflower seed mixes at workshops in partnership with The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildflowers & Native Plants. Soil preparation, seeding, and wildflower tending were demonstrated and one of four custom wildflower seed mixes was 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 was officially identified with a prominent carved wood sign. The project culminated with an exhibition in spring 2014.
“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
