Transforming the Tree Pits of Chelsea

One sunny August afternoon, I found myself trekking home up Eighth Avenue for no real reason other than a change of scenery - and when I got to 18th Street, what a change there was. The notoriously seedy and trash-ridden median on the south side of the intersection had been transformed in to a glorious mini-garden, complete with sturdy chrysanthemum bushes and vibrant, playful lantanas. But beyond that was the real stunner: the tree pit on the north side had towering sunflowers, probably eight feet tall, a rainbow of impatiens, spiking canna lilies and happy, sunny rudbeckia. Kneeling at the base of this botanical bounty was one T-shirt clad gentleman, rooting and plucking and digging.