Organized Weed and Wildflower Areas
Channel: slobomotion
Date: 18/07/2014

Parc Cachin on rue Henri-Barbusse in Saint-Denis, France (93) was a racetrack until the 1930s, and over the past 20 years, I've seen it be a Rom or Gens de Voyage (there is a difference) encampment (they were relocated and boulders were put around it to keep caravans (trailers) out and sometimes there were fairs here or traveling circuses, which are still very popular in France.  Gens de Voyage have been in France for centuries and are considered French.  A postage stamp has honored them.  They prefer a portable life, but some become sedentary, and there are many in Montigny, a bit North of Paris, where they can own land they are allowed to keep pretty wild and cultivate, and it's legal for them to have chickens.  There are many designated areas for Gens de Voyage, nearly all rural, they are clearly indicated on the roads and highways.  Rom people, that's a different culture, language, everything.

It's July, so quiet -- August is even quieter in France.  It's high season for vacation, the costliest time, the hottest time, many things are closed for an entire month, or on Summer hours.  The siesta is fully honored, as it is in every Mediterranean country I've known of, and North Africa on the Mediterranean.  "Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noonday sun!"

This park, is, however, much-used much of the year.  It's good to see.  Children still play outside a lot here, even in cities, but may be overseen and not just running loose.  The supervisor can sit on a bench at a distance and let them run off that kid-energy, use the playgrounds, play games, look at the plants.

People alone, dog-walkers (ugh, sometimes), the retired, people with children, children alone use the parks here a lot, and there is an active pétanque field and club down this street where you can sit and certainly play.  Convivial!  Many French are mad about pétanque, also boules sometimes, but anyone can play these.  I never mind watching.  Kind of like bacci balls, or croquet with no wickets and mallets.

Paris itself (this is Saint-Denis, on the Northern border of Paris and is a separate city with its own history and culture) has the most public green spaces per capita of any capital city in the world.

Places which allow controlled weed areas (they just have to be raked out occasionally) and wildflower areas are smart.  It's better than having to mow the grass, more beneficial, prettier.  One place in Paris uses Ouessant black sheep to mow, and one place here in Saint-Denis uses another breed of sheep to mow, and they are collected and sheltered safely for the night.

I'd been to the dentist, and went to buy a bouquet of fresh flowers, do a full pharmacy run, and totter home.  One small errand outside remains undone, but it was hot and three errands seems to be my maximum.

Do you have city wildflower or controlled weed plots near you?


Digital video recording, comments and annotations copyright 2014 Lisa B. Falour, B.S., M.B.A.
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