Green roof

There seems to be no formal forum for this, though I had hoped there would be, so I am going to start a thread and hope that I can generate some interest in folks who would like to build something like this.

Instead of posting pics here, I have made a photo diary, which can been seen here:

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4165380&a=30962253&pw=

Hope there are some others who are interested, since finding the proper things to grow in 5" of light-weight growing medium is a hard job for someone with as little plant knowledge as I have.

Enjoy . . .
~marilyn

Marilyn I'm pretty sure Ginny (Inanada) has some experience with this . Right now she's prolly running around with end of season chores but I'm sure she'll jump in when she comes up for air.

Thanks, Lilypon.

I do need some exchange of ideas here.

Now that is really neat! What are you growing up there?
And where can I get a Japanese rain chain?

carol

Hi Carol:

I'm not sure what I'm growing up there - lots of things springing up that I don't know the names of. The horticulturist did the initial planting, and I know he gave me a list, but in the downstairs renos that followed, my list went visiting somewhere and hasn't come home.

In fact, I have a couple things springing up now, that the leaves look the same size and shape (sort of like skunk cabage), but on one the leaves are smooth and shiny, and on the other they're hairy. It's a puzzle to me - I'll post them here, maybe you know.

I got my rainchain on the net - it was too expensive to get one from Japan - the shipping was a killer. I think it was www.rainchains.com They're really lovely.

~marilyn

and the other one

Hi Cyber, cool idea! Very creative! By the way, you really transformed the outside of the house with your upgrades. Night and day!

I think the 5" of soil is going to be a limiting factor for you though (regarding the zonal rating and the size of the plants you can grow). The fact that you only have 5" of soil is likely to knock 1/2 to 1 zone off your regular winter hardiness of zone of 5-6. Probably your drainage is good though so that could offer a little compensation though. I can think of several easy to grow plants that would do fine for you zonewize, but I think the hollyhocks might be out. Since you don't really have a lot of soil to hold the plants down you may have to also gravitate towards plants that are a little more on the diminutive side unless you want to buy a few pots to add a little verticle interest with some taller plants (Jap maple, evergreens). I think sedums (so many choices, and quite hardy) may be a good bet for you and many have very attractive flowers. Perhaps you could do something interesting with scotch or irish moss or thymes as ground covers. There are many other ground covers that could be utilized depending on your theme. There is likely some type of rock fern that could be used that would be shallow rooting enough to merit consideration. My vision is sort of a Japanese zen-like garden - maybe I was influenced by the rain bells. Based on a rather unusual experience of leaving some Japanese forest grass outside for the winter in a plastic bag last year (I moved and forgot to plant it), I can definitely recommend it for winter hardieness. I think it has fairly shallow roots but I could be wrong but it is a very attractive plant.

Some other perennial plants worth considering: geraniums (good candidate), lamium (gc), iris, coral bells, smaller daylilies, corydalis (gc), campanula (gc), saxifragia, lewisia.

Keep up the good work and don't forget to show off the finished product.

Although all of my roof space is sloped so I can't do a green roof, I absolutely love what you've done with yours. I'll have to keep popping in for updates. Great work Marilyn!
--Ginny (the other one)

Ginny jumping in. Don't have time to read too much at the mo. Eg: hae to be elsewhere in 30 mins so this is a quicky. Sedums .and Hens & chicks. are best. However, what about snowcover, way roof is oriented, rubber to stop roof rotting etc etc. Yessssss. At the RU in BC we even went to see a living roof. Carpet to strop rubber rubbing on roof etc etc etc.

Have built 2 in my lifetime, worked on quite a few more. Lots of SB houses have them. If not the entire roof, quite often the verandah roof.

Second last day of CBCunlocked on CIUT. Sobbing..... And I can't even listen to rest of today.

Cheers.
G

Marilyn I was just eyeing your roof top garden and rain chain again. By any chance did CBC feature your garden on the news (a week or so ago)?

Don't know about CBC - getting to be too much hip-hop for me these days -

Good article in G&M today. Go to
http://www.theglobeandmail.com

and search for greenroof

Inanda where the Red crested today. Water rom Fargo will be here next week.