Today I’m thrilled to introduce a series of posts written by Patricia Youngquist AKA The Last Leaf Gardener. Patricia gardens on a roof extension in the Upper Westside of Manhattan in New York City, a much different climate than my balcony in Southern California! Patricia knows a thing or two about protecting her plants from New York’s cold winters, and I really appreciate her willingness to share her ideas with the rest of us. First up, is Patricia’s introduction to her garden, which will be followed by posts about building cold frames and wrapping plants.
Like Fern, my garden is a container garden, and since it is on a roof extension, I also experience “life on a balcony”! However, unlike Fern — because, I live in the northeastern portion of the United States — I have to contend with the “W’ word, and prepare the things I grow to “weather the storm” of a long winter season. The garden I have is comprised of 80 plus things including herbs, vines, flowers, plants, grasses, shrubs and trees — all grown in containers.
The picture at the top of this blog entry is an “aerial view” of what it looked like this afternoon after Juan V and I put on the finishing touches of my Christmas decorations. However, the ”overhead lights” (shape of an “X”) that you see above my garden are a fairly new addition (August 2011), so they have not experienced a winter in NYC, although, we had a mini snow storm the last Saturday in October (2011) which the things I grow in my garden, and the lights strung above it, survived.
The red and green balls (lower left hand corner of the image) are my holiday decorations made from recycled bleach bottles and they are hung on my Corylus avellana (Contorted Hazel Nut). It has been a fairly and almost unseasonably warm December — in fact my Tropaelum majus (Nasturtium), Echinacea, and roses (from three different shrubs) are still blooming!
Still the “W” word officially begins on December 21st, and last year I winterized my urban garden on December the 11th, so, I’ve already waited four days longer than last year, and plan to bite the winterizing-bullet, and do this years winterizing on December 27th unless Mother Nature slams us with bone chilling weather.
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If you’d like to see more pictures of Patricia’s garden, please visit her at www.thelastleafgardener.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook or Twitter .
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I love Patricia’s garden. Patricia has invited me over for many gatherings. I’m always thrilled to sit in her garden among the plants and the nearby trees. It’s delightful. I know the hard work she puts in for her love of gardening. For me it’s such a treat.
Love that you’re bringing an NYC guest blogger on board! So interesting to get a different perspective — especially from someone who is so passionate and creative when it comes to her garden. A very natural fit for Life On The Balcony
. Love your blog and love this series of posts! Thank you Fern and thank you Patricia! Keep them coming!
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