He's the comedian-philosopher who Rallied to Restore Sanity, and I actually saw him - with the aid of some binoculars. (You can click here to see my pathetic photos of the event, though I prefer this much closer shot taken on Halloween of 2009.) Or click here to see my companion's photos - she was more daring than I was stopping people for shots.
But on the subject of gardening, Jon's opening remarks on the Mall actually touched on the subject. He mentioned the sad state of the Mall and urged rally-goers to leave it as they found it - no littering! Then he upped the ante, saying we should leave the Mall even better than we found it - with some topiary! So let's pause to imagine this topiary surviving the next Million Something-or-Other March and remember that Jon's an apartment-dweller in Mahattan.
One more on-topic item from the Rally is about the National Lawn. As it happens, two prime chunks of it were roped off from the frustrated throngs packed like Tokyo subway-riders on all sides, desperate to get close enough to see or hear something. Anything. So no doubt the lawn needed reseeding, but never was a lawn cursed by so many.
I thought his reference to gardening and his encouragement of the landscapers in the audience to whip up a few topiaries was hilarious! I enjoyed your post. I'm amazed that people respected the rope and didn't fill into the space. There is hope for this country yet!
Posted by: Cat - The Whimsical Gardener | November 01, 2010 at 08:20 AM
The TIME HAS COME: NO LAWNS, HEDGES OR PALMS.
The GOSPEL according to Antigonum Cajan.
Posted by: ANTIGONUM CAJAN | November 01, 2010 at 08:44 AM
NO ONE WENT INTO THE ROPED OFF LAWN?
Speechless.
Garden & Be Well, XO Tara
Posted by: Tara Dillard | November 01, 2010 at 10:30 AM
That's right - NO one was inside the ropes. That's how reasonable we all are.
Posted by: susan harris | November 01, 2010 at 12:34 PM
I was following the event on Twitter and saw some hilarious signs. I like some of the ones if in your photo stream too.
Posted by: allison | November 01, 2010 at 12:38 PM
Bid deal with the herd inside the ropes and the feeble minded here making a big deal out of it.
Posted by: ANTIGONUM CAJAN | November 01, 2010 at 12:41 PM
When Jon asked "Are there any landscapers here?" about 500 hundred hands (as far as I could see around me, at least) went up. Weirdly slanted demographic, or people just wanting to raise their hands in a large crowd?
Posted by: Judy | November 01, 2010 at 01:42 PM
I'm not a gardener but I love what gardener do so I may have been compelled to raise my hand.
Posted by: lifeshighway | November 01, 2010 at 02:29 PM
Jealous that you got to be part of the event!
Posted by: amy manning | November 02, 2010 at 05:03 PM
I wish that Rally-goers had respected the Mall's already over-stressed trees. Each one I passed had at least 2 and usually 3 folks who had climbed up in them for a better view.
Posted by: Kathy J, Washington Gardener Magazine | November 02, 2010 at 08:19 PM