I finally got around to putting up a little sign with the name of our tiny sidewalk garden, and a link to the website for folks who might like more information about the various plants.
Garden Signage
Broadway Treebeds
I did a bit of cleanup work in the treebeds along the east side of Broadway from 106th to 104th Street this week: cleaning out some trash, breaking up the compacted top soil, and mixing in a couple of bags of compost. I’ll come back next week to scatter some flower seeds and hope that a few of them will come up over the summer.
Caring for treebeds in this high-traffic area can be frustrating — fresh trash is tossed in them on a regular basis, dogs routinely urinate along the edges, and it’s challenging to get the storefronts to put any effort into maintaining them — but I remind myself that they’re still better off with some care than without, and perhaps over time we’ll see greater community engagement.
Spring Cleaning
After a long winter, and a couple of weeks out of town, I finally spent a few hours out in the garden getting ready for the growing season: cleaned up a bunch of last year’s foliage, mixed in two cubic feet of compost, and planted two flats of colorful annuals.
I was super pleased that two neighbors jumped in to help — one aerated the planters behind the fence and dug in some flower seeds, while another cut and attached new pieces of bamboo to reinforce the outdoor bench. (A third had swept up trash and dried leaves while I was out of town last week.) So nice to have the community support!
First Snowfall
Winter has come to the sidewalk garden.
Late-Blooming Geranium
The growing season is drawing to an end, but this colorful geranium on the steps of 217 W 106th doesn’t seem to have gotten the memo and is putting on a show amidst the drying grass and slowly-yellowing leaves.
Pink and Purple Blooms
Our garden got badly parched this summer, but it’s managed to bounce back a little as temperatures have dropped from their peaks.
Budding Hibiscus
Our hibiscus shrub (aka “Rose of Sharon”) is getting ready to flower for the first time this season.
Burdock In Bloom
I love the thistle-like flowers on our burdock plants!
Blazing
A nice fiery set of pansies has popped out following today’s rain.
Oleander Aphids
These bright-yellow oleander aphids are growing fat and plentiful on the sap of a dogbane plant. In agricultural settings, aphids are almost universally viewed as a pest, but I’m pleased to see them here in our tiny habitat, because I know they’re a favorite food for ladybugs and other insectivores whose numbers will be growing in the coming weeks.
