I came across this low fence made of tree prunings while walking through Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. It’s very simply constructed and relies on the v-shape where one branch joins another rather than fussing with string and wire. Mind you this wouldn’t survive five minutes on my block but seems like a viable design on a quiet side street.
Guest post by Amy Urquhart
“Invasive” does, in fact mean, well, “invasive”. I’m always curious when I buy a new plant labelled as invasive, just how invasive can it be, really? That one little starter plant can’t really get to be that big in one season, can it?
Besides the usual mints, balms and the like, I give you the official 2006 list:
Catnip - this is literally a shrub now, after starting it from seed just last spring. It has made many little catnip babies all around the base, too.
Monarda - my mother in law gave me some of this last year. Now I know why. It’s very beautiful, though, and in a contained area so it should be kept in check. I moved the clump to another place, and where it once sat, this year, it sprang from the earth again. I must have left a little piece of root behind.
Raspberries - also from my mother in law. We got three canes from her last year. Here’s the result so far.
Cherry Bells Campanula - These have taken over the entire small bed the first plant went into mid-way through last summer. The most prolific self-sower I’ve had yet.
Leave a commentI need your help finding subjects for a project I’m starting this spring/summer. I’m looking to photograph gardeners in their gardens.
What is a garden? My concept of a garden is very open-ended. It can be anything from a sprawling lush paradise to a single plant growing in a coffee can. Gardens include but are not limited to: community gardens, allotments, backyards, balconies, rooftops, front yards, containers on a patio or street corner, store windows, fire escapes, windowsills, guerilla gardens….
Define gardener? A person who grows and/or cultivates a plant or plants. I want to document as many types of gardens and gardeners as possible… gardener’s of all ages, nationalities, genders, and experience levels…
Please email me: Your contact info, a few words about the garden and the gardener, city, and when you think the garden is at its prime or you like it best.
Note that I don’t drive so I may not be able to make it to your location at this time. However I will be in the following cities in 2006: Chicago (next week!), Toronto (always), San Francisco (July), New York (Sept), Miami (Dec).
Leave a commentIt’s not at all related to gardening but I will be showing 20 of my photos in a group show alongside 3 other photographers entitled PHOTOGRAMMETRY opening this Friday at Harbourfront Centre here in Toronto.
What: An active public space exhibition of urban photography.
When: May 13-July 9 (Opening Friday, May 12, 7-9pm)
Where: Service Canada building at Harbourfront Centre.
Comments OffKelly Gilliam
Today I was eyeing the plants at my grocery store. We all know not to ever expect much from the grocery store plants, as they’re usually completely neglected, dry, and limp looking if not half (or totally) dead. However, the grocery store plants are the closest and easiest for me to get to, so I like to puruse and sometimes get a spectacular find.
However, that’s not what got me thinking today. What got me thinking, was the urge I have whenever I see a half dead plant. I know from discussions on the forums that these urges are natural for us that have gone beyond the occasional gardener to the obessive gardener.
It sounds bizarre for those of you who aren’t constantly picking through and checking on their gardens, and looking for seeds of bizarre and exotic plants. But I liken it to the cat lover who can’t help but rescue a stray cat. I can’t help but want to rescue the poor neglected plants. I can see their beauty through their browned and wilted leaves, I know that just with a little TLC they could flourish.
That doesn’t mean I save every plant, however, but I sure want to. Perhaps that’s why every inch of available windowsill space is covered with little (and some not so little) plants. Almost every plant I’ve bought has been an attempt to save its life, save for a few here and there.
I have to stop myself some times and realize, that while I hold a plants life as extremely important, sometimes my need to eat is a little more important than a withered and dying aloe that I’m positive would live 100 years if just given a little care now.
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