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 'ladies of Linco' to start the garden. Only last summer, they contacted a farm specializing in Chinese vegetable and plants in New Jersey, and had the plans drawn up there. Then, a truck load of organic soil was brought in and placed on the black papery material underneath, keeping it separate from the toxic soil beneath. Obviously this separation can still breath and let the water drain, but it keeps the weeds down and allows the nutrients in the organic soil to remain.
The design was drawn up by a Charlie Huang, of the Chia-Sin Farms, in Pittstown, New Jersey. The ladies of Linco told us that as a young man, Charlie had the opportunity of a lifetime: to design a private garden for the aging President of the Republic of China, Chaing-Kai-shek, who died in 1975. As you will see in the link, Charlie came to the States, and the rest is history. And, his designs are alive and well in LIC.
The Linco garden has one big big advantage: piped in water! Ah, I am so jealous. Also, they have a rain collection system installed on the roof of their building. The hoses that we saw around the garden are attached to the collection drum unless it's a drought - as it's been lately. So, it's a good system.
Apparently those sunflowers were just a handful of plants, last season - and not particularly noteworthy. However, with proper soil, sun, heat and water, this year's crop is simply amazing. I think some of them must be 16 feet high. Really! Also amazing are the fruit trees, squash, tomatoes hanging in rows, and the nice mounds of fall-blooming chrysanthemums - sculpted to be perfect spheres.
There's one ironic thing about the garden design. It was planned so that the name of the company - planted in privet bushes - would be visible to those in their cars on the LIE on their approach and slow-down to the Midtown Tunnel. Alas though, it was not to be. The cars are not tall enough and the guard rail blocks the view of most of the garden. But...there's always Google Earth.
Who would have guessed that in Hunters Point, Queens, I would have found such a garden, and such simpatico friends of nature. The ladies of Linco were also inspired by the Cottonwood tree, and mourned it's destruction - hopeful it will make a strong showing, despite all. The Linco garden is an oasis, a joy and a continuing inspiration.
Now, just for the record, check out this screen shot I made from good old G Maps Street View (thanks). Since Linco began their garden in August of 2009, my guess is this view is in July - a bit over a year ago (G maps is slow on the update of some things). What progress. Wow, it's awesome, in the best of old-fashioned sayings!
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