Wednesday, July 15, 2015

What a fun blast from the past to come look at this old blog in our former condo. That was a fun garden! Now I have a different gardens in a new space, in a row home. Still in Chicago, still on an alley, still multiple levels, but bigger and maybe better? Though that old one was pretty good. Here's the current set up from top to bottom: a small balcony off the master bedroom, a large rooftop deck off the kitchen, and a courtyard in back off the "orangerie" (ok, mudroom.)

The roof deck off the kitchen:

Saturday, July 22, 2006

I wish I could add new pictures, but I'm having technical difficulties.

In good garden news, the morning glories have definitely reached the top balcony. The bad news is that the wind has really taken its toll on some of the vines, resulting in brown dried leaves. I am wondering if I should cut them off or let them be. They are ugly, so I lean towards taking them off.

The sweet 100's are doing really well. I ate a couple yesterday that were NEARLY ripe. I should probably have waited a day or two. But it looks like we are about to be getting a steady supply of yummy tomatoes. The only problem is that when I reach in to find the ripe ones, I knock off some green ones. They seem to come off pretty easily.

Sunday, July 09, 2006

I like this cluster of pots. Petunias in the large pot, with some small sunflowers in the middle that have a long way to go. In front there are two small blueberries, flanking some pansies that are well past their prime. Posted by Picasa
The herbs are taking off except for the oregano, which died almost immediately. Posted by Picasa
Coral bells, in flower Posted by Picasa
A closer view of our decks. I want to take advantage of the stacked decks, so I am hoping that the sweet potato on top grows down, and the morning glory covering the ac unit (not visible here) grows up the trellis to the top deck. The lower deck is 10x16, with ac unit and gas grill, and the upper deck is obviously much smaller. Posted by Picasa
Here's the back of our building, from the alley. The top two decks are ours. Posted by Picasa
The neighbors across the alley have some pretty intense balcony gardens that I enjoy watching, too. Posted by Picasa
The current view from the kitchen/family room. I am proud of the morning glories (left)climbing up the trellis netting that I rigged on top of the green plastic trellis. They'll reach the upper balconey soon. Posted by Picasa
View of the main deck from the upper balcony Posted by Picasa
These are the petunias and sweet potato vines growing on the upper deck off the master bedroom. The idea is that the vines will hang downward and create a hanging garden over the lower main deck. Posted by Picasa
The trellis covering the ac unit has morning glories and black eyed Susan vine climbing up towards the upper deck, and verbena, vinca, and cosmos down lower. Posted by Picasa
That's the sweet 100 tomato on the left. It's going to take over the deck anytime now. Posted by Picasa

Saturday, July 08, 2006

June 11 - herbs in a strawberry pot Posted by Picasa
June 11 - The tomatoes (right) have grown so fast. The peppers (left) have just begun. Posted by Picasa
The view from our kitchen/family room Posted by Picasa
June 7 - the bunny topiary that I pretend is for Nora but is really for me Posted by Picasa
June 7 - the view from our bedroom balcony Posted by Picasa
June 7 - more window boxes, and more to plant still in the flats Posted by Picasa
June 3 - blueberry Darrow transplants Posted by Picasa
May 29 - Osteospermum in bloom Posted by Picasa
May 30 - morning glory seedlings appear in the trellis planter Posted by Picasa
May 27th - Newly planted dracaena, sweet potato vine, vinca, gypsyphilum, dichondra silver falls Posted by Picasa
May 27th. Note the nice vacant lot across the alley. Posted by Picasa
May 27th - just getting started Posted by Picasa
May 27 - Nora was a big help planting Posted by Picasa
June 9th - first flowers Posted by Picasa