“Life finds a way.” That's a line from the movie Jurassic Park. And artist Doug Rosenberg learned that truth when he found a great blue heron perched atop a tipped-over shopping cart. The heron was hunting for food amid the plants that had grown up around it. Rosenberg found this mini ecosystem in the Los Angeles River. That's the 51-mile concrete stormwater drain that locals jokingly refer to as “the wash” and the “La La Land Drain.” It's an artificial flood control waterway that captures treated wastewater. It also captures illegally dumped tires, junk metal, and garbage. "That was when it clicked for me,” Rosenberg told NPR. “Any 3D geometry at all in that river channel will trap sediment," giving rise to a mini ecosystem. So Rosenberg decided to expand on the idea. He created a 10-by-20-foot island in the middle of the waterway using rocks he'd dragged into the river. Over ten weeks, he watched the rocks trap sediment, forming a mini-marsh. Soon after, animal life arrived. That included a flock of Canada geese who stopped by during a recent migration. He told NPR the project was a form of performance art. It’s also known as “guerilla gardening.” It's become a growing grassroots movement through which people grow flowers and other plants in abandoned public spaces. They often use vacant lots or medians without permission. It is often frowned upon. Sometimes, it's illegal. When NPR asked the US Army Corps of Engineers about Rosenberg’s island, a spokesperson said it would take it apart if workers found it. Heavy rains beat them to it. The island was washed away. But Rosenberg isn’t giving up on the idea. When spring comes, he’ll build a new one. Thought Question: What’s a time when you saw something surprising grow or thrive in a place you didn’t expect? Photo of LA river from Wikimedia Commons courtesy of Alexis Doine.
