Planning for Spring

Last year, I didn't grow anything on my balcony.  My heart wasn't into it.  I needed a break.  The twice daily waterings, picking up tomato plants that blew over in their pots while I was at work (and cleaning up all the dirt that came spilling out), and then cleaning out all the containers at the end of the season in my bathtub was tiring.  However, the older I get the more I accept that life is a marathon and not a sprint.  It is a OK to take time away from something.

This year I am ready for balcony gardening again albeit something a little different.  While in years past I have stuck to annual flowers, vegetables, and herbs, this year I want to start incorporating some perennials.  But not just any perennials.  Perennials that will bloom all summer long and provide flowers I can plop into vases at home or at work.

I am what you would call a plant collector.  If I see a plant I want, then I often will get it even if that means I have no where to really put it.  So my purchases this spring will speak to my cut-flower loving, collector heart.

This Josee reblooming lilac

 

This Julia Child floribunda rose



And this hardy everbearing fig.  Oh how I have wanted a fig tree for so long.




All these plants (and photos) are from Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co.  And the best part is that they are having sales, which means that my dreamy spring planting can become a reality.

Friday Inspiration: Belgium Window Gardens

Taken in Bruges, Belgium.

Gardening on the Upper East Side

Last weekend, I took a trip to the upper east side to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  I love looking at all the houses close to the museum because they are always so beautifully landscaped and decorated.  Here are pictures of some of my favorites.

Love this red door.

Friday Inspiration: Paris Balcony Garden

Taken in Montmarte this past fall.

Growing a Greener World

While I was lounging on the couch killing time before I had to catch the train back to the city during the holidays, I happened to come across "Growing a Greener World" on public television.  Growing a Greener World describes itself as a t.v. show that "features organic gardening, green living and farm-to-table cooking."  The show really caught my attention.  While the show airs during prime errand-running time, all the old episodes are posted to their website so luckily I can view them whenever I want.

I am a little late to the game, since the show is now in its fourth season.  But the other day, when I was looking at old episodes, I came across two from season three that are very relevant for us urban gardeners:  small space gardening and NYC rooftop farms.  You can watch them here and here.  I hope you enjoy Growing a Greener World as much as I do.  Its nice to dream about gardening during these very cold days.

Window Garden

As seen on Bond Street today.

A New Plant for the New Year

Over the holidays, I fled the city for the country to visit my family.  Tea was drunk, crosswords were solved, and a whole lot of gardening sites were read.  The entire time, a very large Thanksgiving cactus sat sentinel.    With the gardening sites in front of me and the cactus next to me, I got to thinking that maybe I would like my own Thanksgiving cactus.  While I have always had much better luck with outdoor plants than indoor plants, the adoption of an orphan spider plant last spring (which is doing remarkably well in my office) had me feeling confident and I decided to try my luck again.

I carried two cuttings back with me to the city on the train wrapped in a white paper towel in my bag.  Two days later, I pulled out some left over potting soil (I like Miracle-Gro Moisture Control the best) and a little white pot.  In went a coffee filter (to let water drain but not soil), followed by the potting soil and the two cuttings, which I planted about one inch deep.  A little water and voila!  I new plant for the new year.