Transformation Idea
I thought…
Imagine driving home after a stressful day. You see the median in the middle of the road with grass and weeds.
Now, imagine driving down the road and you see a colorful swath of wildflowers.
A “What If” Survey
In April 2022, I posted on Nextdoor that medians in Fairfax County, Virginia, should be planted with wildflowers instead of grass and weeds. I got a surprising 156 responses:
- 7 agreed
- 3 ha ha’s
- 2 smiles
- 144 hearts
Soon after, I reposted a story about elementary school children who were given seeds to put along the sidewalk. The seeds “magically” grew into rows of marigolds in an otherwise barren landscape of concrete.
The marigold seeds post received 896 responses!
- 8 smiles
- 7 wows
- 7 agrees
- 2 sad tears
- 850 hearts
Emojis are sometimes elusive in what they are implying, but 850❤️are pretty conclusive: People Love Flowers!
Nay-sayers
Of course, you can’t post on social media about planting wildflowers and not get nay-sayers. Of course, some people were concerned about negative consequences, so I respect that and let’s hear them out. Just keep in mind that they were in the very small minority. Here are a few:
While that would be lovely, I can see at least one downside. If they let the grass and flowers flourish, animals may frequent them. In other places, wonderful. But not so great if we are talking about the middle of the street. I certainly don’t want creatures to jump out and drivers not see until it’s too late.
— MK, Cardinal Forest
MK that is a very real possibility. The smallest animals (including insects, mice, etc.) bring the predators…
— TC, Bluemont
Wow, where exactly is that? All see on Fairfax County Parkway is litter, plastic bags, and garbage bags. I’ve already submitted a report to VDOT to please do some environmental cleanup.
— MF, Springfield Forest
On-the-Positive-Side
Fortunately, most of the feedback was encouraging.
Back in my hometown in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they have held a community planting event each spring for decades. As the saying goes, “It takes a village.” And it’s a big source of community pride. The drives into the city are beautiful.
— DB, Valley View
When I lived in Dallas, most all the highway medians were usually in full bloom with wildflowers through 3 seasons. They only had to mow once a year. Fantastic driving experience.
— IL, King St/Old Town
Whenever I do see medians like this it makes me so happy.
—LW, Braddock
Great idea… If enough squeaky wheels reach out, we can make your dreams come true.
—CP, Braddock
…we need this on our highways. I think it would change everyone’s mood for the better!
—NG, Springvale
What the Experts Say
“Wildflowers provide critical habitat for pollinators, beneficial insects and wildlife, which is important for ecosystem function and pollination. Studies show that native wildflowers are four times more attractive to pollinators than non-native wildflowers. …healthy and colorful wildflowers not only provide natural beauty to our landscapes, they benefit the environment, wildlife, and you.”
USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/national/newsroom/features/?cid=nrcseprd1326644
“The roots of wildflowers help to stabilize the soil and hold on to nutrients that might otherwise be washed away in the rain. Their presence can improve soil health, prevent erosion, and improve water quality.”
Leave No Trace, https://lnt.org/what-are-the-benefits-of-wildflowers/
“Urban design and planning can promote mental health by refocusing on spaces we use in our everyday lives in light of what research tells us about the benefits of exposure to nature and biodiversity. …even small patches of genuinely bio-diverse nature can re-invite and sustain multitudes of plant and animal species, as urban ecologists have shown.”
The Conversation, https://theconversation.com/biodiversity-and-our-brains-how-ecology-and-mental-health-go-together-in-our-cities-126760
“Wildflowers are also useful for their role as pollinator plants as they help to support declining bee populations.”
Phys.org, https://phys.org/news/2014-05-ecological-benefits-gardening-wildflowers.html
“…because native wildflowers have co-evolved with an area’s climate and pollinators, they usually require less water and fertilizer to grow, are less prone to disease, and are more tolerant to pests.”
Golden Gates National Parks Conservancy, https://www.parksconservancy.org/gateways-article/beyond-super-bloom-why-wildflowers-are-so-important-bay-area-parks
There is a “…growing body of evidence that emphasize the role of nature in contributing to the well-being of urban populations and, hence, the need to consider biodiversity in the design of landscapes that enhance multiple ecosystem services.”
Front. Psychol., 27 November 2018, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02320
“Flowers make us happy by stimulating dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin—the happy chemicals in our brains.”
Psychology Today, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-neurochemical-self/201706/why-flowers-make-us-happy
“Using psychological, physiological, and neuro-scientific techniques, we investigated the process through which viewing flowers regulates emotion. We found that passive viewing of a typical flower image down-regulated negative emotions and decreased both elevated blood pressure and cortisol levels…
Science Direct, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494419304001
A study at Rutgers University, published in the April 2005 issue of Evolutionary Psychology, reveals that “flowers have immediate and long-term [positive] effects on emotional reactions, mood, social behaviors and even memory for both males and females.”
(Evolutionary Psychology, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/147470490500300109)
How Will We Do It?
How do we pull off a campaign to plant wildflowers throughout Fairfax County and put smiles on faces? By putting the medians up for “adoption”. This would be similar to adopting roadways to clean up litter, but much more fun and rewarding.
We will partner with local stakeholders:
- Virginia Department of Transportation
- Nonprofits that promote native plants and sustainability
- Master gardeners
- Mental health organizations
- Local businesses
- Citizen’s associations
- Youth and senior groups
What Role Will VDOT Play?
To implement the planting of wildflowers in state right-of-ways, VDOT must review and approve sites for planting wildflowers.
Join Us!
Of course, it’s not quite as simple as throwing down seeds, but it’s not rocket science either. Let’s plant wildflower seeds to spread joy and pride in our community!
We are seeking individuals and organizations interested in assisting in our mission. Send an inquiry today!
Contact Urban Wildflowers
