A lush bougainvillea adds a touch of color and life amidst so much asphalt on Rambla Catalunya, at the height of Còrsega street. Maria Ponsà, the owner of the florist shop of the same name at this location, transplanted the plant more than twenty years ago in a tree pit in front of the establishment. In fact, it was a bougainvillea that did not sell, it had a couple of leaves left, and before it died, the florist decided to give it a second chance. Over time, this climbing species grew, and today it forms a sort of natural pergola, known as the tunnel of happiness.
The strong windstorm that hit the city on December 7 caused the plant to fall about 20 centimeters. Ponsà then alerted Parcs i Jardins as a precaution to perimeter the area to avoid potential safety issues. To her surprise, they suggested cutting the bougainvillea one meter from the ground. She didn't sit idly by and started a petition to protect and preserve this feature.
Ponsà planted the bougainvillea more than two decades ago in a tree pit in front of the flower shop
In fact, this is not a new situation for him, and he remembers that in 2017 the City Council asked him to remove some exterior elements from his business, including the bougainvillea, for “illegal occupation of airspace.” After starting this new campaign - he has already collected a thousand signatures - Ponsà explains that Parcs i Jardins verbally informed him a few days ago that they will not cut the bougainvillea.
She appreciates this decision, although she wants this commitment in writing, and her desire is to take it a step further: including the plant in the catalog of small urban landscapes to ensure its survival. “It is an iconic and unique element of the city. People love bougainvillea, and there have been no complaints, quite the contrary. Plants not only beautify but also bring life; they provide shelter for insects, butterflies, and birds,” emphasizes Ponsà, the fourth generation of the family-owned century-old store.
Add that the bougainvillea “does not belong to any political party” and tell how, following a refurbishment in the store, they found a hiding place that their father, Venancio Ponsà, talked about. The hiding place was used to shelter both Nationalists and Republicans during the Civil War. “My father used to say that sometimes when some from one side left and those from the other side entered, they met, and sometimes even hugged each other,” Ponsà recalls. The florist also submitted a preliminary project to the Council to reinforce the plant's security with a structure in the face of future windstorms.
I request Junts to preserve the bougainvillea
Last Friday, the municipal group of Junts filed a request asking the city government to include bougainvillea in the catalog of small urban landscapes and to also preserve it with appropriate construction. Joan Rodríguez, the Junts councilor, stated that if this unique element “has security issues, what must be done is to secure it, not remove it.”
