Gravel to Green

Because the footbridge is our only way in and out of the neighborhood from the 7 train, the stairs are a perfect chance to chat on the way up or down. Most of the new friends have come from an inquiry, a compliment, or an offer of help, as someone comes back from work, or is on the way. The other morning I think I had seven conversations while I tried to pull up the roots of the stubborn ragweed. (And people say New York is not friendly; huh?) As the plants grow, so grows the group!

This is The Footbridge Garden after our visitor/godmother, Mrs. Green Thumb. She affirmed the success of many of the transplants, and gave solid advise of what would work where, and bloom when. This is a peek into the vision of the garden; you can see what we have, what we still would like, and what work needs to be done. Today marks the 11th week; we have much to be proud of thanks to so many who have either watered, or given kind words. Our many visitors and future helpers will be seen in the next posts.

Some Boston common sense What a helpful visitor to the garden: the official first godmother of The Footbridge Garden. Let's call her Mrs. Green Thumb, from the suburbs of Boston, where she is head of a garden club. She's the one who offered the first plants: the Montauk daisies, which have now been in our LIC soil for 11 weeks. It was with great pleasure to welcome her help, her eye and expertise. And with her came many day lilies, more ajuga, asters, and of course - more of that wonderful home-made mulch. So we planted in the heat of another hot morning on the 25th of July. We dug more beds, replaced that nasty soil with a better mix, and did what we could in the heat. But now, things are really starting to take root. Thanks again, Mrs. Green Thumb.

A sweet 5-leafed marigold. The Footbridge Garden turns eight weeks old and the seeds, lovingly germinated in Dixie cups, have started to mature in their new beds. Sun sun sun; water brought by buckets. And just as we thought we'd never feel a drop of rain, we got a good soaking. A few days later, the first red marigold plants began dotting the greenery with bright blossoms. Our colorful community of viewers continues to grow too. Now, familiar faces descend the footbridge with a wave, a comment, and daily well wishes. One balmy evening I heard two mature gents chatting as they were walking down the steps. "Let's see what the garden is doing", they said as they stopped to peer over the stair rail. After admiring comments on the plantings, I noticed one of them sported a large pair of binoculars. "Oh, have you been bird watching?" I asked, thinking their interest in the garden was a natural extension of a day in the ...

Each day brings more green, and more budding friendships. Many people stop to admire, give encouragement and say they've noted the progress. We've already started a simple exchange of emails and phone numbers, but looks like we need a more organized way to communicate when one of us is out of town or not around. Because our watering methods are so primitive, duplicating the effort is not so efficient. Early on, several people from the Borden Veterans Residence, a block away, had expressed interest. Now, it's time to contact them again. And further down Borden Avenue is Fresh Direct - the online supermarket - where they pack up the food purchased online, and deliver it all over the entire New York area. One nice worker stopped to chat and expressed interest in getting involved. It's clear we're growing in people as well as plants! It's amazing we all have survived this week. I was away a few days and worried that the over-100 degree weather would leave most thin...

Footbridge Garden Update: July 4, 2010 This weekend, three of us embarked on getting the gravel path laid down, and the fence begun. The fence is modeled after the British and early American fences that were made with branches- sometimes even growing trees, whose branches were trained into shapes. All things considered, these 'found' cut branches seemed to do the trick. And, for those of you who recognize what we're fencing in - yes - it IS ragweed (no sneezing yet). Eventually, it will go, but for now, it's green. More and more people are volunteering to water and keep an eye on the garden. I'll try to round up some good photos of the waterers in the next few days. Now, we wait until later in July when more promised plants will be brought in. Also, I certainly hope it will be cooler then, as our latest plants are suffering with the heat. It's predicted to be 100 this week! What a time we've all had. Rain, please.

Up from the roots: green It was March 14, when the limbs of the cottonwood tree on 51st were cut off (please see my first and third posts on the blog). I'd always intended to go over on Borden Avenue, find the entrance to the building, and talk to those running the business on whose property the tree grew. I'd driven by a few times and thought it looked closed, and I could not see the name - even though the name Diplomat Envelope Company could be seen fading on the side of the building. There was a large 'yard' and the gates were closed. I wanted to get to the bottom of WHY the cottonwood had been cut down. I'd presumed it was possible that the roots were still growing, disturbing the plumbing or the foundation. But I did not pursue it. I'd learned from a biologist friend that the vine that had surrounded the tree and grown up into the branches and onto the building had been poison ivy. Could it have been a way to get rid of the ivy...a bit of overkill, in attem...