Below, this is Nick, today, representing some new gardening blood recently hired, sawing at the very potbound roots of a Japanese maple. One of the challenges of container gardening, with container-grown plants. He said rather carefully, This is more brutal than the type of gardening I was taught.
I know, son, I said, welcome to New York! And blessed him for being taught at all. It is a pleasure to work with people who love plants, and he does. He speaks fluent Spanish and Portuguese and Paulo, our resident Brazilian, beamed all day in response.
Fast forward: the Swiss chard perking up in the kitchen garden after a thorough soaking. The new boxwood hedge in the background immediately changed the space and made it more intimate.
The two espaliered Mackintoshes were retied to their cross-pieces and upright supports with velcro ties: easily removed and super-strong. It gave me a new appreciation for this art of tree-training - I stood up there for about two hours taking off the old plastic ties and making sure the trees would remain supported in wind. It is a sweet thing to be balancing on a high floor, looking down at the traffic patterns below, the thunderclouds above, the silver Chrysler Building gleaming in the distance in a shaft of sunlight, and then to refocus on the apple branch 8 inches from your face...it is one of the best ways of belonging to the city.
Sir Fred's custom-made planters looking lovely.
Below, gardener Linda planting the perennials beside the area where the dining table will be. The irises drooped initially but again, a nice drink perked them up.
Roses, gaura, hardy geranium, Japanese iris, nicotiana, common sage and good old lavender.
Just out of curiosity, what's the price range of a store-bought apple espalier of that size? I have an apple & pear espalier and am curious.
ReplyDeleteSee it at: http://web.mac.com/charlierj/ArtOfGardening/Home/Entries/2007/12/27_Monet’s_and_my_esapliers.html
I'd have to kill you after telling you...:-)
ReplyDeleteRather interesting POV of your gardeners...
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was thinking the same thing...
ReplyDeleteYour terrace is coming along beautifully. You know, it looks much longer than just 12 and a half feet? There is a lot of room there, and you are doing wonderful, creative things with it. Very pretty colourful images too. Thanks!
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ReplyDeleteAh, Lavinia, I wish that were my terrace :-) That is more like 2,000 square feet. Maybe one day.
ReplyDeleteI design gardens for other people. The company I work for, Holly, Wood and Vine, provides me with all "my" gardeners...
Breeg and Beence: well, we're used to seeing each other sweat and don't get at all excited by it, :-)If that's what you meant.
Anonymous: I agree entirely.
By the way, I forgot to mention that I love the flower pictures - especially the purple one, gracefully leading off the shot, very coral-esque, no depth of field, quite nice. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you...Iris ensata, aka Japanese iris. I cropped it, :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic choice of plants in those custom-made planters, they look amazing. From your photos I can really start to appreciate what city gardening is all about. Your clients must be very, very pleased with the finished project. x
ReplyDeleteThank you Louise...and I hope so!
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