crack garden
Experts say that directing your gaze towards natural elements, even in the middle of a city, can enhance well-being. I find this to be 100% accurate.
Admission to the urban museum of “crack gardens” is free!
All you need are some comfy walking shoes and the desire to explore. Urban settings are common habitats for these miniature gardens because concrete is plentiful. However, green life forcing through cracks is not limited to cities. It can be lush and surprising in all kinds of places. I focus most of my attention on what I find in the urban setting because discovery can bring immense pleasure due to the stark contrast between manmade and natural environments.
Crack gardens do not require tending like other gardens. They volunteer their existence by courageously pushing through the cracks while relying on occasional sunlight and rain for sustenance. It’s important to mention that the crevices can also collect leaves and petals, resulting in wonderful patterns and tiny landscapes.
My initial attention to these little wonders was sparked by countless hours of hitting the pavement during the lockdown phase of the pandemic, and I’m still happily wandering to this day.
Scroll down to visit the gardens and read more. . .
air vent on the Spring Garden St. bridge
ground light at the top of the rocky steps
exquisite hedge with afternoon shadows
like a modern art installation
pink petal magic
rubber curve with green moss accents
hello world plant explosion
lush edging around the sidewalk vent
love of stone with sprouting grass
European sidewalk with stylish metal cover and teensy green volunteers
border garden
perfect petal art
pollen at its best
who is she with that hairdo?
unexpected beauty is always welcome
such a cutie-pie
all the right elements
four inches of wonder
how can you not marvel at this gesture?
stretching the definition of crack garden
when it's good, it's good
design and the crack garden
Every time designers set out to make anything, they must make decisions about scale, proportion, positive and negative spaces. This requires careful analysis of how one thing relates to another thing. I apply this same analysis to everything I see.
My process: walking, seeing, capturing, designing, repeating.
Result: images that mimic the experience of forming a collectively intriguing pattern from a distance and charming crack gardens when viewed up close.
Crack gardens form when plants burst through splits in cement, asphalt, tar, wood, stone, and brick. I seek and capture these mundane treasures on my daily walks, then post my findings on Instagram as part of my real-time portfolio. I aim to raise awareness so others can notice and enjoy the small things.