Metro rips out Phantom Planter’s flowers at Dupont Circle station

Washington Post ^ | 7-7-13 | Robert McCartney

[afraidfortherepublic]

It turns out I underestimated Metro bureaucrats’ capacity for folly.

Two weeks ago, I wrote that the transit system would look silly if it let perish 1,000 flowers planted secretly at the Dupont Circle station by local garden artist Henry Docter, the self-described Phantom Planter.

I feared that Metro would merely neglect the flowers. Instead, last Sunday, it sent workmen to yank them out.

[SampleMan]

what if it was some weirdo who was planting Venus fly traps or poisonous something? “nice” is very subjective.

I like subjective decisions. Take out bad plants, leave good plants. IMHO, subjective decisions are much better in such cases than zero tolerance policies.

[Jean S]

Morning glories are weeds. I planted some seeds once, huge mistake, they took over a part of my yard and destroyed a trellis.
Fortunately they are annuals in Wisconsin.

[blackdog]

I've been collecting spanish moss from trips to Savannah and spots in Mississippi when I see it. I've been hanging it in my oaks, dogwoods, magnolias, and such. From what I understand, it once grew here in Memphis but big city pollution killed it off. It's very picky about air quality.

Some of it has established itself. If only the birds would stop stealing it to make nests! But I guess that will spread it to other trees too. I'm hoping to have it hanging all over by the time I die. So I've got that going for me.............

[Mrs. Don-o]

OK, I’m not in a position to judge, since I haven’t been in a NYC subway since -— oh goodness, the late 1980’s! I agree, the NYC subway is double-plus-filthy. At least, it was back then.

[GladesGuru]

DC should be planted in poison ivy, with land mines randomly scattered to allow the natives an opportunity to fertilize the new ground cover.

[ZinGirl]

I'm hoping to have it hanging all over by the time I die

well...if not, you can always plant morning glory! :)

I spent some years in Florida. My mother loved the Spanish moss. But NOT the kudzu. The rule with planting kudzu is, "drop the seed...then run!"

[GladesGuru]

” But we all can’t just go out and do whatever we want to because we think it’s “nice”. This is why we have laws....so we don’t govern ourselves on feelings. “

Jawohl! What is not forbidden ist mandatory!

[Oscar in Batangas]

METRO Workers =

Union Members on Sunday Overtime

What’s not to like??? /s

DC is obviously too much awash in OUR MONEY

(watch for METRO to bill the poor guy for the union labor on some sort of anti-littering premise)

[ZinGirl]

Is English your first language?

WTH? where did THAT come from? to answer your question, NO. My native language is morning glory. Next is kudzu. After that, I speak FreeRepublic. I dabbled in teenagerism, but that language was scary and had no meaning.

happy now?

[Defiant]

That which is not permitted is prohibited!

[blackdog]

From my farming days, I assure you there is nothing that a few hundred sheep and a dozen goats will not gnaw down to the dirt. I took an overgrown pasture which was 20’ tall in saplings, weeds, brush, sumacs, basswoods, poison ivy, nettles, etc..... and that flock of sheep and goats had it down to nothing in about three weeks, ready for the chisel plow. When they were done I discovered an old Nash car, some old appliances, and several engine blocks were strewn about.

[Hoodat]

Hollywood Knights. There was a scene in that movie with a one-armed violin player that was hysterical. I literally fell off the couch, I was laughing so hard.

[ZinGirl]

:) wow. good to know! someday, my husband and I would like a small (SMALL) farm. The kids ask if we will have goats. Hmmmmm......they sound handy!

[Hot Tabasco]

Was he going to tend it?

Sounds like he was......

Metro formally threatened him with imprisonment if he watered, weeded or otherwise cared for the flowers he’d planted.

[ZinGirl]

Metro formally threatened him with imprisonment if he watered, weeded or otherwise cared for the flowers he’d planted.

in which case they would have to water and otherwise care for HIM. :P

I believe they have to say this. If he slips and falls while doing so, they may have a lawsuit on their hands.

[editor-surveyor]

What you’re smoking!

[editor-surveyor]

Yer Unc tends to exaggerate.

[ZinGirl]

well? Inquiring minds want to know.

[Newbomb Turk]

Oh those ? We are tearing those out on Monday anyway to make way for the Newbomb Turk Memorial Library.

[blackdog]

Sheep are like locusts and they breed like rabbits. Goats are very intelligent, personable, and the Nubian dairy goats we had would milk about two gallons a day each. If I were to small scale farm I'd go with goats. Goats prefer to graze on brush, ie, from your knees up to your chest. Tall stands of alfalfa, oats, peas, and such. Sheep are gentle, stupid, and born looking for a place to die. They will overgraze quality pasture and ruin it if you are not very careful and keep rotation sections to accomodate one day in seven. They will also bloat at the drop of a hat in the evening hours after they lay down for the night. You'll go out to check on them at midnight and find them in congestive heart failure with their feet pointing straight to heaven. Of all the losses I ever experienced, tipped over sheep was the largest mortality issue.

Good luck! It's a great environment to raise your kids.