The neverending Agapanthus

I think that I'm going to have to add Agapanthus to my favorite plants list. These were planted in mid April and they have been flowering since then. They are native to South Africa so they are amazing annuals for our climate and when they're done blooming the foliage alone is very handsome.

The best weapon for fungus and pests

This is the time of year for aphids and other disgusting pests in the
garden. I must say that whenever I see aphids on a plant, usually on
the flower buds or newest foliage, I get a gross feeling of malaise in my gut.
I really loathe aphids, the kind that feed on plants and the kind that
feed off bee's eyeballs. They are truly bad parasites and I love killing them.
Anyway,
I have been using this amazing insecticide and fungicide for over a
year now and highly recommend the concentrated version of Organicide
(link above). It works fabulously, although it smells a little like
salmon skin - it seems to do the trick for almost all bugs in the
garden this time of year and works great on powdery mildew. It's also all natural ingredients (hense the fish smell)

PS -
if you can find ladybugs for sale - they are the best aphid killers.
You also get live action satisfaction when you see the lady bug grab an
aphid and chomp on it's body for a few minutes.

This is my army

They got all suited up with feta, mint, oregano and parsley and went into fight a battle with 325 degrees. We all know who won. These are Jason's beauties inspired by international market on 9th ave in Hells Kitchen. They really are the best tasting bird.

Hello Queens

I stumbled onto this empty roof by accident last week. It's on the 44th floor on the east side somewhere in the 80's. I think it's the highest I've been on a roof or terrace and the view was overwhelming.

Yesterdays garden Q & A

Leslie Lands q&a this week discussing blight resistant Chestnut Tree's (which I don't think we have to worry about because I think the chestnuts are too big and too pollution sensitive to grow in the city) AND information for super sunny spots and the drought tolerant cutting flowers you can grow. check the link above...

Week 3 in the raised vegatable / herb boxes

Here's week number three in the little crop beds we made. It's been a
chilly last week and a half and hoping for some warm and wet air the
next few days. The snap peas managed to push some flowers out.
The crappy news is that we have transplant everything and
move the soil and plants to a new backyard space in our new apt
(which is totally the most amazing home I might ever live in.) I'll
send some photo's soon. The upheaval begins last week of May.

It's Lysimachia and Dichondra time!

This is from a job I did last year on a terrace in Harlem.
Lysimachia is the light green and dichondra is the silvery cascader in the background. My 2 favorites. Lysimachia = perennial. Dichondra = annual.

Prospect Heights

BEFORE













AFTER:

Liberty Sunset

Liberty Sunset Garden Center is a really awesome place. It's a little sloppy and make-shifty and it's a little hard to find, but once you're there - it's impressive. It really is a hobbiests workshop and most of the tropicals are almost too big to even think about buying but the smaller items are decently priced and they have a really beautiful selection of Columbian pots. As far as outdoor perennials go I suggest the Gowanus nursery because I think that Liberty Sunset is mostly about indoor horticulture. They also had some really nice hydroponically grown vegetables. Definitely worth a trip again when it warms up.

raised beds - soon to be relocated

It's a little tragic but after building vegetable boxes and getting a new bbq me and the boyfriend have been notified that I will have to be moving out by the end of June. We made these raised beds and placed all of the seedlings we grew at his place. We'll have to transplant all of the mature plants into smaller pots and moved into a new place when the time comes. The frames are transportable (just 4 sides) its just the moving of the soil that will be a real bitch. I'm going to continue to report on their progress because the heirlooms tomatoes and the mustard greens I think are going to be really special. Also if you're looking for some great and interesting seed varieties check out: http://www.gourmetseed.com/ they have an excellent selection of cutting greens.