"Flowers are nature's way of affirming how beautiful life can be."
As much as I would like to attribute myself for that simple, yet profound quote, the honor goes to a man by the name of Henry Docter, a part-time lawyer and full-time artist who describes himself as "a little nuts."
Docter, 52, considers himself a performance artist and has been busy for more than three decades practicing a peculiar form of public display: planting flowers. The Washington, D.C. resident has planted some 40,000 flowering plants at public locales ranging from memorials and embassies in D.C. to faraway destinations in Cambodia, Argentina, and Spain, according to an article written by Robert McCartney of the Washington Post.
Docter's work is totally voluntary, and is typically met with simple curiosity, if not outright optimism. Because after all, who doesn't like flowers?
One of the highlights of visiting Washington, D.C. with my friends from Australia was the chance to catch up with my sister Sarah, who just so happened to be living in D.C. during the summer of 2013. She was excited to show us around; believe it or not, there are actually culturally positive enclaves within the city that are worth checking out. You just need to know where to look.
One destination she had in mind was the farmers' market, in Dupont Circle. Getting there was a snap - although we were staying in Crystal City, the D.C. Metro could deliver us directly to Dupont Circle, with only one or two transfers.
I saw my sister before the Metro doors opened. She beamed as we departed the train and led our entourage toward the escalator. In order to exit the Dupont Circle Metro Station, we had to ride the escalator out of the earth and up, to street level.
This was a particularly long escalator ride. I felt as though we were being delivered out of the abyss. As we rode, I looked up. The escalator stretched and disappeared into daylight; several stories, I guessed. As we broke into daylight I couldn't help but notice - the Dupont Circle Metro stop was particularly ugly. It was sweeping and grand in design, and even incorporated a Walt Whitman quote chiseled into the superstructure. However, there was no color. There was nothing to distinguish this American steel and concrete configuration from its Maoist counterpart. As if to underscore my observation, a series of flower boxes lined the incline next to the escalator. They were all empty, bar a few dried, straggling stems. Not even weeds seemed eager to take root there.
As if reading my mind, Sarah pointed to the vacant flower boxes. "See those? There used to be flowers planted there, but the D.C. Metro made the guy who did it rip them out."
Sarah was correct. A small amount of research led me to the most perplexing and conversational story of the summer. As you've no doubt connected by now, it involves Henry Docter.
Mr. Docter took it upon himself to plant more than 1,000 flowers in the 176 abandoned flower boxes along the escalator of Dupont Circle Metro station in Washington, D.C. - the very boxes Sarah motioned to on our long, heavenward transit. His intention was no more complicated than a desire to add color and life to a public space that begged exactly that.
In October 2012, Docter planted and cared for the daffodils and tulips in the previously empty boxes. He went so far as to prune the flowers after they bloomed, and trimmed the leaves. Then, in June 2013, he sent a polite letter to the D.C. Metro, informing them of his intention to continue to care for the flowers at the Dupont Metro Station.
According to the Washington Post article by Robert McCartney, "Metro threatened Docter with "arrest, fines and imprisonment" if he dared to weed, water or otherwise tend to more than 1,000 morning glories and other flowers whose seeds he planted in 176 barren flower boxes alongside the top stretch of the north escalators at the Dupont Circle station."
A spat ensued between Docter and the D.C. Metro. Metro argued that it was concerned about Docter's safety - what if he slipped or fell on the steep incline? Docter suggested he wear a safety harness and sign a waiver in order to continue his work. He even went so far as offering to "work" as an "employee" of D.C. Metro just to make it all official - for $1 per year.
In the end, the D.C. Metro descended upon Dupont Circle to undo Henry Docter's work. One by one, each of the flowers were yanked out of the boxes and discarded. One by one, flowering, blooming, and colorful boxes were reduced to empty buckets of prosaic dirt.
Never mind that the D.C. government can't keep its trains running on schedule. Never mind the ticket kiosks are always breaking down. Never mind Metro routes are redirected without warning, and station maintenance is performed during peak hours, an inconvenience to all. Flowers? Heaven forbids it.
As we stepped off the escalator I casually remarked on the palatable ugliness, "Don't worry - it'll all be different once they take control of health care."
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a column for the Times each Tuesday. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
As much as I would like to attribute myself for that simple, yet profound quote, the honor goes to a man by the name of Henry Docter, a part-time lawyer and full-time artist who describes himself as "a little nuts."
Docter, 52, considers himself a performance artist and has been busy for more than three decades practicing a peculiar form of public display: planting flowers. The Washington, D.C. resident has planted some 40,000 flowering plants at public locales ranging from memorials and embassies in D.C. to faraway destinations in Cambodia, Argentina, and Spain, according to an article written by Robert McCartney of the Washington Post.
Docter's work is totally voluntary, and is typically met with simple curiosity, if not outright optimism. Because after all, who doesn't like flowers?
One of the highlights of visiting Washington, D.C. with my friends from Australia was the chance to catch up with my sister Sarah, who just so happened to be living in D.C. during the summer of 2013. She was excited to show us around; believe it or not, there are actually culturally positive enclaves within the city that are worth checking out. You just need to know where to look.
One destination she had in mind was the farmers' market, in Dupont Circle. Getting there was a snap - although we were staying in Crystal City, the D.C. Metro could deliver us directly to Dupont Circle, with only one or two transfers.
I saw my sister before the Metro doors opened. She beamed as we departed the train and led our entourage toward the escalator. In order to exit the Dupont Circle Metro Station, we had to ride the escalator out of the earth and up, to street level.
This was a particularly long escalator ride. I felt as though we were being delivered out of the abyss. As we rode, I looked up. The escalator stretched and disappeared into daylight; several stories, I guessed. As we broke into daylight I couldn't help but notice - the Dupont Circle Metro stop was particularly ugly. It was sweeping and grand in design, and even incorporated a Walt Whitman quote chiseled into the superstructure. However, there was no color. There was nothing to distinguish this American steel and concrete configuration from its Maoist counterpart. As if to underscore my observation, a series of flower boxes lined the incline next to the escalator. They were all empty, bar a few dried, straggling stems. Not even weeds seemed eager to take root there.
As if reading my mind, Sarah pointed to the vacant flower boxes. "See those? There used to be flowers planted there, but the D.C. Metro made the guy who did it rip them out."
Sarah was correct. A small amount of research led me to the most perplexing and conversational story of the summer. As you've no doubt connected by now, it involves Henry Docter.
Mr. Docter took it upon himself to plant more than 1,000 flowers in the 176 abandoned flower boxes along the escalator of Dupont Circle Metro station in Washington, D.C. - the very boxes Sarah motioned to on our long, heavenward transit. His intention was no more complicated than a desire to add color and life to a public space that begged exactly that.
In October 2012, Docter planted and cared for the daffodils and tulips in the previously empty boxes. He went so far as to prune the flowers after they bloomed, and trimmed the leaves. Then, in June 2013, he sent a polite letter to the D.C. Metro, informing them of his intention to continue to care for the flowers at the Dupont Metro Station.
According to the Washington Post article by Robert McCartney, "Metro threatened Docter with "arrest, fines and imprisonment" if he dared to weed, water or otherwise tend to more than 1,000 morning glories and other flowers whose seeds he planted in 176 barren flower boxes alongside the top stretch of the north escalators at the Dupont Circle station."
A spat ensued between Docter and the D.C. Metro. Metro argued that it was concerned about Docter's safety - what if he slipped or fell on the steep incline? Docter suggested he wear a safety harness and sign a waiver in order to continue his work. He even went so far as offering to "work" as an "employee" of D.C. Metro just to make it all official - for $1 per year.
In the end, the D.C. Metro descended upon Dupont Circle to undo Henry Docter's work. One by one, each of the flowers were yanked out of the boxes and discarded. One by one, flowering, blooming, and colorful boxes were reduced to empty buckets of prosaic dirt.
Never mind that the D.C. government can't keep its trains running on schedule. Never mind the ticket kiosks are always breaking down. Never mind Metro routes are redirected without warning, and station maintenance is performed during peak hours, an inconvenience to all. Flowers? Heaven forbids it.
As we stepped off the escalator I casually remarked on the palatable ugliness, "Don't worry - it'll all be different once they take control of health care."
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a column for the Times each Tuesday. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
