"Once upon a time not so long ago, the only color you could count on seeing as you drove, biked or walked along that ugly urban streetscape on your commute came in the form of occasional roadside graffiti. Now imagine one fine day, lo and behold, a colorful riot of neon California poppies, purple lupine, blushing clarkia and beaming yellow sunflowers have sprung to life from the barren ground to line the roadsides, railways, bus stops and medians, cheering you along your way. Meanwhile, their respiring leaves cool the air, their grippy roots prevent erosion and filter rainwater runoff, and their bewitching blooms attract the pollinators that make the daisy chain of life go round and round.

Well, that vision of urban Eden may be coming soon to a median near you. The Seed Pile Project—a collaboration between UC Davis and West Sacramento start-up Miridae Living Labs, assisted by a cadre of citizen scientist seed sowers—aims to find out if no-maintenance native plant species can rewild forgotten corners of the urban landscape with little to no upkeep."

Read the full story at Sactown Magazine