After the fantastic advice you all gave me on urban gardening, I thought it only fair to report back on my progress. I’ve devoted one side of our patio to my slightly-greener-than-before thumb, and have had a ball trotting out there to snip fresh herbs while I’m cooking. Here’s how it looks from afar:
What you see here in the inedible category are four types of dahlias, a gardenia bush, and two decorative shrubs (I cannot wait to start smelling gardenias and oohing and aahing over colorful dahlia petals!). In the edible category, I’ve planted a slew of things that suit my taste buds: basil, chives, parsley, dill, shallots, mint, sage, oregano, thyme, mesclun, and arugula. But what’s that fantastic black planter in the back, you ask? Why, it’s my very own Ikea hack! This brilliant idea is fully credited to my mom, who saw our old Ikea tv stand lying around (it’s too wide for our current tv nook) and decided that flipped on its side with a little construction to support it, it’d make the perfect planter. As always, she was right! Let’s take a closer look so you can see the former tv stand bones:
The old electronics dividers work perfectly as plant dividers. Holes were drilled into the bottom for drainage and a decorative fence was attached to the back (thanks Dad and T!). We raised it to help with drainage and nestled it right into the back corner, where along with those trees it helps prevent our most adventurous kitty from invading the neighbors’ territory. Here are closeups of a few of the plants, along with fantastic vintage silverware markers from Etsy seller Monkeys Always Look.
That’s the latest from my urban perch. I’ll do my next garden update when I have tomatoes planted (I’m late because they intimidate me) and pretty flowers in bloom. (By the way, I hope you all have peonies on your tables right now – they’re in season, readily available, and thus ultra-affordable for the only time of the year right now! My place smells heavenly.)
How are your urban patio gardens coming along?
Twitter: @emilyj82
Isn’t it ironic that I live in rural Pennsylvania, but because we’re still renters, we’re forced into “urban” gardening? Some day. Our front porch garden (because it gets the best sun) currently contains: tomatoes, peppers, basil, parsley, rosemary, chives, and dill. Your salad greens look amazing, and the silverware markers are so cute. Happy gardening!
.-= Emily’s most recent blog post: Blue Skies and Rain Clouds =-.
wow I am impressed! That TV stand is a great idea. We have some herbs on our balcony but its certainly not as extensive as this!
.-= Kelly’s most recent blog post: Cultural Difference : Appliances =-.
Twitter: @amy_i
I am IN LOVE with those silverware planter labels. Completely living vicariously through you. I have a backyard with lovingly constructed raised bed and all, but didn’t plant at all this year because life is in limbo. It’s so hard to walk past the seedlings at the farmers market. Peonies aren’t here yet.. can’t wait for my first sight/whiff of them though! And if you can grow all of that other stuff, you can definitely do tomatoes. Can’t wait to see which varieties you pick!
.-= Amy I’s most recent blog post: Challah =-.
I love your garden! And those garden markers are so neat!
We rent an apartment under a house with an underused yard, but I’ve been so busy with wedding planning (and recovering from a bike accident – back pain! yikes!) that I’ve hardly done anything out there! Next year…
.-= Julie’s most recent blog post: The invites are mailed! Most of them, anyway… =-.