How to garden when you can only rent? Pots or a very understanding landlord are the most common solutions. What about in a city, where there is only concrete? In that case, there's usually only a window sill. But in San Francisco, several remarkable residents of two twenty-unit apartment buildings banded together to build an outdoor living room from a crumbling concrete slab and a single large tree.
Not the usual garden gate:
Not the usual garden path:
A living room: a room that's alive, and a room for living--for parties, for a few moments in the fresh air, for friends, for plants, birds, water. The one original Pittosporum undulatum has been joined by many new trees...Podocarpus, Citrus, Arctostaphylos, Sequoia...
All surrounded by adjoining buildings, windows, walls...
Cheerfully decorated with cast-offs and donations...
With playful, quirky style.
Many fun parties have taken place there...
...books read...
...sorrows comforted...
...joys celebrated...
...alive and lively...
...loved.
Not the usual garden gate:
Not the usual garden path:
A living room: a room that's alive, and a room for living--for parties, for a few moments in the fresh air, for friends, for plants, birds, water. The one original Pittosporum undulatum has been joined by many new trees...Podocarpus, Citrus, Arctostaphylos, Sequoia...
All surrounded by adjoining buildings, windows, walls...
Cheerfully decorated with cast-offs and donations...
With playful, quirky style.
Many fun parties have taken place there...
...books read...
...sorrows comforted...
...joys celebrated...
...alive and lively...
...loved.
Wonderful and innovative!!!!
ReplyDeleteI almost wanted to rent an apartment there. Really adds to quality of life in a city.
DeleteWow, Hoov! This post captured so much I missed, while I was in my own world. Amazing how they are all renters, yet created such a great space here...giving me ideas..... Beautiful photography and contemplative commentary with each pic. And so nice to meet the one and only Hoover B.
ReplyDeleteThanks, David! Likewise happy to have met you. Wasn't the Fling fun?
DeleteOh, what a great post! You got some fabulous photos there. It was a lovely garden, wasn't it?
ReplyDeleteThank you Alison. It was a true oasis.
Delete(I am sorry I am so behind on comments.)
An inspiring symbol of neighbourly cooperation!
ReplyDeleteIt was inspiring. They made something wonderful out of nothing. It was all done with love.
DeleteGreat shot of the butterfly! Such a cool, creative garden, San Francisco seems to abound in small hidden gardens, that ameliorate the crowded city atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteSF is looking really good indeed.
DeleteOh, Hoov, you captured the spirit and unique beauty of this garden so perfectly. It was such a lovely example of the cooperative creativity that can occur when gardeners are motivated. Just a lovely post.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jane, you are so kind!
DeleteWow, you really got some excellent pictures. And I didn't even notice the butterfly. Thanks for making my memory of this place much more complete. Great post!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteBeautifully done Hoov!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Delete