Getting to Know the Sunflower Generation

A Fulbright Year Learning from Taiwan's Youth

Taipei Has a Green Thumb

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My friends were asking me whether there’s green space in Taipei. Yes, my friends, yes there is. This is the most lush, fecund, over the top plant-friendly place I’ve ever been. Stuff grows like crazy, and you know that makes me nuts because I’m the world’s worst gardener. Here are some photos I took on my walk to work. Nothing special — just typical sights around Taipei. They’re roughly in the order I encountered them. Click on “Read More” for the slideshow.

Trees squeezed between the front of a house and the fence wall in front of it.
There’s a good four feet between the front of the house and the wall along the street. Plenty of room for a three-story tree to flourish.
A tree growing out of a sidewalk.
This tree doesn’t care that there’s nothing but buildings and pavement everywhere in sight. It’s going up, and it’s taking tons of little plants with it.
Potted plants
The stuff that grows out of the ground is a lot, but not enough; people love their potted plants, which seem to grow like gangbusters on rainwater and sunshine.
A roof covered with plants
These plants are just growing on the roof. Why not, right? The orchids at the back left are in pots, but the rest is just growing on whatever dirt settled up there.
Wall covered with ferns
You know those plant walls people spend big bucks on in the US? This one’s happening all by itself.
Trees in a vacant lot
A vacant lot has room for multiple full-grown trees.
Plants in a brick planter
This is actual landscaping. There’s a little goldfish pond in there, it’s kind of overwhelmed by the greenery.
Ferns growing off a tree
Here in the pocket park, tree trunks are pressed into service as holders for giant ferns.
Tree covered with ferns
This one (in the same park) almost doesn’t have a trunk, it’s so covered with other plants.
Play structure in a pocket park
Somehow they managed to squeeze a play structure into the park with all these plants.
Bananas growing
Bananas grow outside the women’s dormitory. Why not?

Some of these plants are actually a little scary.

Plants coming up through a grate
This is a woody shrub. It is growing UNDER GROUND. It is trying to get out through this grate. I think it will succeed.
A small building with trees coming out the roof
There are two trees here, one in the front and one in the back. They have lifted the corrugated metal roof off the walls and are growing through the crack they created.
Building with thick vines on it.
This vine is going up six stories. It grows over brick, glass, tile, metal. It is unstoppable.

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Comments

  1. This is awesome! I am so glad David shared, I am living vicariously through folks in Taiwan.
    Here are a few links of people that may be cool to connect to!
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ6q73JwlyTNCbAGb-d3Cew
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCorBWy2Imz8wZTl9cERkpqw
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJQ4cxWeJk2eM4vVRRC9cbg
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXpbSh6g1ZWHxk-UQv86VzA
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB29YwVijDL98e3cESRzWBA
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVHw0VDxIu72T6vGUFVN7lg
    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj1uvaVv-iHtFvSCFoiLpYw

    Reply

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