Photography by Marie Viljoen for Gardenista.
Photography by Marie Viljoen for Gardenista.
For nine years I gardened on a sliver of terrace at the top of a townhouse in the leafy Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Then our landlord sent our Brooklyn rent into the stratosphere.
For nine years I gardened on a sliver of terrace at the top of a townhouse in the leafy Cobble Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn. Then our landlord sent our Brooklyn rent into the stratosphere.
Marie Viljoen’s deck garden in Harlem (as it looks this week).
Marie Viljoen’s deck garden in Harlem (as it looks this week).
In early fall at the end of the growing season our black cat Vince and I piled into a sewing machine sized...
In early fall at the end of the growing season our black cat Vince and I piled into a sewing machine sized...
...Zipcar and followed the moving van that contained our belongings and all my terrace plants across the Brooklyn Bridge and north into Manhattan
...Zipcar and followed the moving van that contained our belongings and all my terrace plants across the Brooklyn Bridge and north into Manhattan
Record snowfalls covered the Harlem terrace in winter. The apartment was a lot noisier than we had expected.
Record snowfalls covered the Harlem terrace in winter. The apartment was a lot noisier than we had expected.
Waiting for spring in Harlem. The heating bills from the newly installed electric heat gave us palpitations.
Waiting for spring in Harlem. The heating bills from the newly installed electric heat gave us palpitations.
Winter daydreaming seeds for spring After the snow receded it was clear that the climbing Iceberg rose two shrub...
Winter daydreaming seeds for spring After the snow receded it was clear that the climbing Iceberg rose two shrub...
...roses the fig that had overwintered outdoors for years and my trusty green boxwoods had given up the ghost
...roses the fig that had overwintered outdoors for years and my trusty green boxwoods had given up the ghost
The fava beans are thriving in May. At night while my husband slept, I ordered fragrant and statuesque flowering tobacco plant seeds–they would give me cheap height and impact.
The fava beans are thriving in May. At night while my husband slept, I ordered fragrant and statuesque flowering tobacco plant seeds–they would give me cheap height and impact.
Pansies and chives in May. I nicknamed our new terrace The Goldfish Bowl: we went from total, top floor privacy to lights, camera, action. The juxtaposition of the haves and the have nots felt excrutiating.
Pansies and chives in May. I nicknamed our new terrace The Goldfish Bowl: we went from total, top floor privacy to lights, camera, action. The juxtaposition of the haves and the have nots felt excrutiating.
A survivor: the blueberry bush. The blueberry bush was visited by local bumblebees, and is loaded with more berries than ever before.
A survivor: the blueberry bush. The blueberry bush was visited by local bumblebees, and is loaded with more berries than ever before.
A black raspberry bush sets fruit.
A black raspberry bush sets fruit.
Michael Marriot the rosarian at David Austin roses sent me five roses recommended for the new light conditions I ve gone from full sun to four hours and a bit...
Michael Marriot the rosarian at David Austin roses sent me five roses recommended for the new light conditions I ve gone from full sun to four hours and a bit...
...in the middle of the day Abraham Darby my longtime favorite pink and gorgeous flowered Munstead Wood a spicy red Darcy Bussell Boscobel and Teasing Georgia all new to me
...in the middle of the day Abraham Darby my longtime favorite pink and gorgeous flowered Munstead Wood a spicy red Darcy Bussell Boscobel and Teasing Georgia all new to me
A blueberry bush flowers. They have blue nodding flowers like bells.
A blueberry bush flowers. They have blue nodding flowers like bells.
Parsley, a tough customer. Trips to farmers’ markets have yielded new edibles like New Zealand spinach and Talinum, a pretty weed I grew up with, but whose leaves are a good cooked vegetable.
Parsley, a tough customer. Trips to farmers’ markets have yielded new edibles like New Zealand spinach and Talinum, a pretty weed I grew up with, but whose leaves are a good cooked vegetable.
I have learned about the light. For recipes from her edible garden, see 66 Square Feet: A Delicious Life.
I have learned about the light. For recipes from her edible garden, see 66 Square Feet: A Delicious Life.
