Gravel to Green

Friends stop by to see what we're up to. Mr. R chats as Miss V takes a breather. Miss V is one of the Footbridge Garden's loyal friends and workers, and has helped do some of the most important work: digging. Because we have a whole spectrum of debris to sift through, it's not a simple thing to put a plant in the earth. First we have to dig. And, what an experience it's been. Two different days we started off thinking it would be easy, and ended up in a sweat with many exclamations, "Look what I found!" To give you an idea, here's a simple list of what's been in the dirt: Lots of broken glass A variety of perfectly intact whisky bottles - 8 or more Rocks of all sizes pieces of wood old railroad parts, including stakes, bolts, etc. pieces of clothing syringes knives cement squares 19th C. cobble stones styrofoam large chunks of freeform cement metal tubes parts of bottles batteries bricks and - an umbrella! Now, the idea is to replace some of this toxi...

Garden visits in Two Parts I was showing a visiting friend the Footbridge Garden last Friday, when I encountered the most honored guests I could imagine: the ladies from the Linco Garden. I was thrilled. See my second post on this blog, "The Second Inspiration " , and you'll get a sense of my first glimpse, last fall. From time to time I go down the long block and take peek through the vines at to see what's blooming. I had fully intended to write a follow up on their progress, but had been too busy watering the Footbridge Garden. However, when I saw them there, I knew it was time. I showed them our progress. Then we squeezed into the path to pose and acknowledge the garden mascot - the cat we call Tuxedo. Now it was time to visit their garden. What a treat! There are many unique things to remember as you view these photos. First, it's the property of the Linco Printing Company, a multilingual printing facility. They own the land, and it was the idea of the '...

Team Effort One of the Footbridge Garden's friends from across the street offered some unique help when he heard there was a big solid item under the earth where I was digging. "I'll send over two of my strong guys with a pry bar and get it out for you in a few minutes", he said one afternoon as he leaned over the stairs. True to his word, this morning he hastened cheerful workers to the garden, and it didn't even take a minute for them to remove it. It happened so quickly, I was not even able to snap a shot before the buried treasure was taken away. What was it? I think someone tossed some cement construction material there once, and years of other junk and dirt ended up on top, and then the ragweed took hold. But, if the Little Zebra grass and other plants are to go there, then the debris had to be dug up. And - just so you know the division of labor was equitable - the fellow on the left in the photo below removed the big slab of rough concrete, after it was ...

Footbridge Garden Continues Makeover A gigantic mound of ragweed has been growing near the base of the stairs for years. It's had a good spot: full sun, dry and windy. Since ragweed loves to grow in abandoned lots, and along roads and rails, it's been quite at home. But, now it's time to move on and out. Easier said than done. While MOST of the roots have been pulled out by hand, I fear we'll see more of this invasive and tenacious green. It's tough!