Urban Oasis: My Garden Blooms in Harlem
When you live in New York City, having a garden is a stone cold luxury. And while I’m not lucky enough to have a sprawling garden oasis, I am lucky enough to have a fire escape that’s large enough to hold me and a few planters! Because no matter how small the space, adding a touch of natural beauty makes everything better. Here’s how I’m doing urban gardening my way!
Urban Gardening: Fire Escape Style
I live in a 5th floor walk-up. Yes, that’s a lot of stairs. And while I do live really close to a park, the thought of hiking those stairs when I want to get a little bit of nature under my feet can be a little daunting. So, to bring nature to me, I’m using my high rise fire escape to create a small, very small urban garden.
Fire Escape Garden Essentials
First things first. Pots and planters are the only way to create a beautiful urban garden on a fire escape and because I don’t have a lot of room, I went with planters that are long and narrow. That way, when I want to step out onto the landing, I’m not squeezing between big, round pots. Sleek and chic is the name of the game.
Second, I wanted flowering plants that required very little maintenance and would last the whole season. Enter impatiens–one of the lowest maintenance plants ever. Impatiens don’t require a lot of direct sunlight, they grow really quickly, and the blooms come in several colors. They are urban gardening ease to the max. Heaven.
Tips
Make Your Garden Your Own
- Choose your vibe. A garden is more than a beauty to behold. It’s an experience to indulge in. Decide how you want your oasis to feel when you step into it and let that feeling be your guide.
- Do you want soft and serene or would you like your urban garden to be a riot of vibrant colors? It’s totally up to you.
- Select a variety of plant types for a total immersion experience. Add plants that grow in different directions for added interest. Perhaps petunias that cascade from a high perch. Perfect!
If you love a good transformation story, this is what my fire escape looked like in the very beginning. Turns out all I needed to create a lovely urban garden oasis, was a few planters, colorful annuals, and a sturdy floor pillow to cushion my tush. And I’ll let you in on a little secret, I thought the white blooms would be my favorite but I’m loving the pink.
Happy gardening!
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colorful and of course it is beautiful. After a hardworking, it being paid by a pleasant to the eyes view and self satisfactory. And I think, your blog too beautiful.
Thanks Aim! Hope you’re still reading and enjoying!