Turns out that Vancouver has its own urban plant-investigating artist, the photographer Jennilee Marigomen.
My sister clued me in to her absolutely fantastic series Botanophobia, which is like Urban Plant Research but with everything – sensations, dimensions, absurdity – heightened and intensified. These photos took my breath away; see if you don’t feel the same way!
This scene reminds me of the ivy that grows behinds the benches in the pocket park near Sara’s place in Brooklyn, only much creepier. Look at those unnaturally large leaves! I can see the headlines already: Mutant plants swallow local park.
This hollow topiary calls to mind my musings on plant caves as a place for childhood dreaming.
Sometimes facades crumble…
A head-on collision.
Thank you, Jennilee, for these incredible urban plant moments. If you like the images, folks, she’s got many, many other projects on her website. And let us know what you think, below!
urban plant research 
I like the idea of a vehicle being eaten by vegetation. Our youngster would like the “hedge cave”.
Thanks, Georgia. I enjoy watching the plants try to eat the car as well. I think I have a plant vs. car picture of my own, somewhere, and will try to find it. It’s not as active and dramatic as this one, though.
I love hedge caves and cave-like trees and am always on the lookout for a good one. In New Haven, for example, there is an enormous weeping willow (?) in Farnam Gardens on Prospect and Edwards that you could literally throw a small party under.
Thanks for introducing us to Jennilee Marigomen. I went and looked at her website, as you suggested.
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
Hi Steve, my pleasure. Aren’t her photographs just amazing?