well thanks Chrissy... here's another one... a new take on the trumpet shaped flower..
new brug...
How pretty Gordon, how are you preparing for the storm today, I see that Brooklyn also has a storm warning. I secured all of my plants already on the canal house, specially those brugs. Don't want anything damaged. Good luck with yours, being on the roof you probably get lots of wind! Keep my fingers crossed that your babies will be ok.
yes... I'll get plenty of wind .. I've 360* exposure.. as long as it goes east west.. or west east I'm ok.. if it goes north itmight be over for the big trellis/sails of morning glories... and for the 40 ' morning glory vines going up the outside of the building.. But I took photos to remember it as what it was going to be ... I've a terrible number of buds about to open.. if it hits/// you'll have missed it for this year..
Ouchie, secure those babies, winds 360 degrees so bad, let's hope it is not so bad!
I'm prayiing for ya, most of mine got to go hide in the shed. The large ones, poor things are laying down on the ground. They all have buds so sad if they lose them.
thanksfor the wishes.. they worked...everything seemsfine here...
WATCH OUTDonna..it's on it's way...the brugs sound ok..on their sides... all the best... Gordon
Hi everyone,
Gordon, I am completely puzzled. Where do you live? what type of setting is it? If it is a roof garden, how can you have so many plants? what size is your garden? By hwat I have read on this thread, you hybridize brugs, right? How do you have enough room to grow hundreds of plants?
It is sooo gorgeous!!!
They weathered the storm with no major Burg damage, they are none to happy this AM but all will be fine.
Hope all is well for you Gordon, with no limb loss or casualties.
Hi Donna... yes it was the worst after the main storm.. the trailing arms wipping about gave the worst winds of the storm... I've lost a few flowers..and the other flowers which had been open..are now passed...and every yellow leaf was removed... all the long forming buds are fine...so it is just a few days of under 50 open now...but then we're back to a full fall complement of heavenly flowers..
Spider... well yes the pictures are of my rooftop.. I have deeded access to it.. it's a residential building... with three residental units.. we are a co-op .. the three residential units are in a condominum arangement with the lawyers in the store front..we there fore are a cond - op..
How can I have so many plants.. well it's a merger of no common sence.. I work myself like a rented mule.. too much available cash.. too many enableing friends.. too crafty and resourceful. an individual. or are you refering to roof supports... they are mostly sitting on the common bearing walls..or a part of an elaborate box beam. front and back. that it's self also sits on the bearing wall on one side...and spans the 22 ft to the other bearing wall on the otherside.. this is the front and back planters... and fence/trellis they are suspended above the roof..
how do I have so many...well they grow together...and I keep order and their behavior with a clipper and knife.. yes.. some breeding of the brugs. daturas...Morning glories... Plumeria..and other plants...mostly growing them.. some field trips to capture native speces in the wild... and their research and study.. it is enough in my limited spaces..budget ..time .. I'd look foward to retirement...so I could do it full time... but my retirement progran has me working up to and including the day I die.. but that last day is optional.. so I play in the garden...mostly full time anyway... Gordon
OK.. this is the front planter... it's the box beam...from the far left sid of the picture.. to the plants on the far right... 5 brugs five rose bushes.. and a few dozen other plants... all in the same planter...all hanging on the bearing walls on both ends.. suspended above the roof... plants.. fence and all... in mid air... for the last 8 years [ note... this is a posessed professional.. do not try this at home ]
This message was edited Sep 7, 2008 2:21 PM
This message was edited Sep 7, 2008 2:24 PM
Fascinating! ...as long as you are in the mood to answer questions...
What are the dimensions of that planter box and how often do you replace the soil?.... potting soil?
Hi everyone,
Hawk, thank you very much for the info and photo. You have a fantastic, gorgeous setting. WOW!!!
And you have big talent with plants. You must be very artistic.
I would love to have a co op where I live but the neighbours keep fighting with each other. I guess people's mentality must be very different where you are. Some neighbours tried (before my time) to buy one of the available lots to make a public garden just opposite my house but the seller decided to sell it to a developer. My neighbours were upset and now there is this big ugly house in place of what could have been a very beautiful wildlife garden.:o(
I am in the deep south but i am foreigner so this is all new to me.
I used to have a little "allotment" in England. Do you know what they are?
They are a piece of public land that is divided into small gardens and you rent a piece for about $5 a year. You can plant anything and it is a great opportunity to share plants and make friends.
Gordon, thanks for the description it helps to create a visual, it is amazing and the picture is awesome.
Just lovely Gordon, glad not too much damage. I managed to have none either over here, so that is good news! That last picture is just gorgeous!
Spider, here those allotments are called community gardens. I taught 4th and 5th grade across the street from one such garden. For several years, I rented a 15' X 15' plot to use with my class. We planted and harvested a fall vegetable garden. Our spring garden had two components — short season vegetables and late maturing ones to carry over the summer into September. Some students helped with the summer chores. This worked for several years. Then one summer several women told the caretaker they had my permission to go in and harvest. They wiped us out. This was followed by neighbors complaining that my class was taking a plot that should go to adults living in the area. They complained to my principal who nixed my project. The irony was that parents often complained that the children had nothing to do. Schools in San Jose are neighborhood schools.
BettyDee... I too have a question... when does your book come out... you must have compiled a million answers by now... I want one... so put me on the list..
it's a planter ... 22' long... and it's made from 2 x 12's sides and bottom.. so it's inside...
11 1/2" X 10 " what a plant lacks in depth and front to back space..it has about unlimited sideways space for it's roots.. the fenceisattached to the back...and is 4'tall cedar planks... spaced apart with a bit of bamboo inbetween..[ the cracks in this area let some wind through.... so there's little pancakeing of the plants...wich occours when the wind crashes down from the top over a solid obstacle ] the bamboo rises above the top of the planks another 2' to from the trellis in back of the planter.. this all sits on the brick bearing wall on it's ends.. OK..change the soil... well I don't.. I've developed it over a decade.. well the brugs are dug out so maybe
1/8 th of it is replaced every year I augment it with a variety of items..Lava for paramagnetics..cow manure for growth.. I let alfalfa pellets sit on it all winter.. and work it into the soil in the spring.. some microorganisms.. earthworms.. root inhancers.. then the regular feeding..
Spider.. well thanks... I used to declare myself an artist.. [ 60's ] . making early computer...and environmental pieces..clothing.. painting.. elcetronic and new plastic technology.. I did a glowing four poster bed... all fiberoptic..the squared posts glowed on two sides.. and were clear through on the other two opposing sides.. the lights could varry in color and intensity.. it sat on a chrome base...moss clothing.. some other plant art pieces.. I hadsome success...and write ups.. [ Newsweek..the new yorker ] I dropped it .. there were any number of reasons.. sailing I guess.. or being a single parent..
Chrissy.. yes... I do love it... the views and the work it is a challenge on this level to be sure.. I just help water Gods Garden..
Donna..thanks I appreciate it..
Clemen.. well thanks... glad it was easy on you.. but then you did take measures to help it work.. no pressure.. you haven't missed it yet..
Betty.. my my it is difficult.. I hope you always keep pushing them ..do you still teach..
well it is a nice view... night is magical .sweet air and the lights.. I have most of the view covered by plants..unless you can stand up... and I hear about that over what a great flower..no accounting for taste I guess
This message was edited Sep 7, 2008 9:32 PM
OH.. here it is..... with TexasPink on the right..always growing up so tall always in bloom I can't recall who's doing the big flowering here.... but the fence on the box beam rear planter shows up here.. with the light through the fence.. to let some wind blow through...
Wow Hawk, you certainly know how to live well!
Do you write for the New Yorker? I read it! I also read the Sun. Have you heard about it?
Have you thought about doing Brugs/flowers photographs? You are great at it! Garden Design? Book on Roof Gardens? you have a lot to teach!
What do you do with the brugs during winter? Do you store them somewhere? Do you make cuttings? Do you grow winter/spring flowering plants? Bulbs?
Bettydee, that is sooo nasty. How can people be so cruel. You did a very honorable job, teaching children about nature. I am very sorry to hear about the way you were treated.
Gordon, you have such a magnificent view of the New York skyline. I'm green with envy. You don't get answers if you don't ask the questions. LOL. I love learning, picking up new information I didn't know before, acquiring new skills, new techniques, reading, asking questions .... Long ago, I taught biology and chemistry to high school students. After 6 years, I quit to start a family and stayed at home until our two boys were in 5th and 7th grade. I did some volunteer work in their classrooms and saw a sense of wonder and an eagerness in children that was pretty much gone by the time they reached high school. When I returned to teaching, I got a teaching job as a 4th grade teacher. A few years later, I followed my fourth grade class into 5th grade. Neat experience being with the same group of students for two years.
When my husband and I moved to Texas, I switched careers. I became a rancher. Thank god for computers. I had a lot to learn. Besides when I quit, I gave all my personal equipment and materials — a mini-van, a pick-up truck and my Jeep all filled leaving only enough space for the driver — to the elementary school my children had attended.
Spider, sometimes the worst treatment a teacher receives comes from within the school system. Notice I didn't leave my equipment and materials with the school where I taught. That last year I taught, I was out most of the spring semester on medical leave due to rotator cuff surgery and the physical therapy that followed. On a Friday, about a month before the semester was over, my principal calls to tell me I had the weekend to get all my personal materials out of my classroom because my class was moving into another classroom. The janitors would not be allowed to move my things because it would set a bad precedent. She knew I'd just had surgery and couldn't life heavy objects. Her answer was: "You have two sons. Get them and their friends to move your things" Up to that point my intentions had been to leave all my materials with the school, but she ticked me off so much I didn't. That week-end, while I directed them, my sons and a few of their friends loaded up all the things I had purchased during the twelve years I had taught at that school — thousands of library books, two large bookcases and several small ones I had made, art materials, science equipment, teacher reference books, and the 10 Macs I received from a local university — and packed them into the three vehicles we had access to. It took all week-end to do it. The following Monday, my younger son and two of his friends drove up to his old school during lunch hour. He said watching the teachers unload the vehicles was like watching sharks in a feeding frenzy. Everything cleared out in minutes! The computers went back to the university to become part of a mobile computer lab project my older son had started when he donated a refurbished school bus. Two elementary schools near the university would have use of the lab manned by university student volunteers. After all that I was put through, the principal called me again to tell me I could move my materials back into my old room, because the classroom moves had been canceled. I told her I had donated all my materials to another school.
I really enjoyed working with children and miss it at times, but I've moved on. So far, I have hand reared three little heifers. I can get all our cattle into the corral all by myself. I'm the record keeper. I can tell you the names of all our cows...tell you who is related to whom. I hate sending our little bull calves to market cause I know that eventually they will end up on someone's plate. Hoping for a better future for some of our animals, I started asking for bred registered Angus heifers or cows. LOL I never, never in my wildest nightmare dream I'd end up here. It's been an interesting 7 years.
About the photo: The little newborn heifer, Dawn, pictured is now 18 months old and will be a mom next May. They are sooooo cute when they are small. Most will be about my height (5'2") at the shoulders, some taller. They can be down right intimidating at times especially when they want their treats, but they are gentle creatures. I can go right up to all of them as long as I don't try to touch them. I lost the second one I hand reared, my favorite, when she died giving birth. She was raised in the dog pen with our Australian Shephard. She though she was a dog. She'd come up to me and want to be petted and rubbed, all 1200 lbs of her. LOL
Stunning night view!
bettydee ...it makes you wonder what makes some people tick ...how much does kindness cost? ...sorry you had that experience and glad you have your moos now to love ...nothing like a beautiful little calf is there.
The idea of a book is excellant ...I can see it now
Angels on the roof top. "A guide for heavenly gardening."
Hi Bettydee,
sorry you had such a hard time. People can be so ungrateful.
I love you little calf and i can understand how you feel about him having to go to market. They are such kind loving critters.
Chrissy, although I don't have a roof garden I just love them and I have seen one or two books on the subject but it's always soooo boring. I don't think most of people who own a roof garden know about its possibilities, especially now with all the new tower blocks.
It could even give ideas to the building contractors so they make sure there is a proper roof that can be used as a garden.
What a difference roof top gardens would make to cities ...just imagine how wonderful it would be if there were thousands of them in all big cities ...the air would be better ...the oasis of peace on the top of the high rise would make for less stress for the occupants and something to really look forward to after a day at the office etc ... it should almost be a way of life, perhaps in the future as we try to fix the planet ...imagine growing your food up there as well, call me a dreamer but wouldn't it be wonderful.
Chrissy,
I have two european books about roof gardens. They are very popular in places like Belgium and Holland.
In the south of France, even if someone only has a little window, there are always plant boxes crammed with flowers. I just love that!
One thing that makes me sad is that I moved here from England and I was shocked by the lack of plants. People just cover their gardens with conifers and pine straws. So much empty spaces...
When i first arrived and lived in Atlanta, i really enoyed the "junkyard' gardens. I just love little plants popping out of anything, but here in my subdivision people look down on these types of gardens. Everything has to be proper and follow the rules. i don't know how they are going to react next srping when I place tens of plants, all in pots, in the garden. I have been going to an "antique" market nearby and buying the most weird little trellises and containers for my plants.
Spider,
One advantage of living in the country is no Homeowners Associations to deal with. Of course, there is always a trade off. You're away from city conviences. One way to get around restrictions is to put everything in your backyard.
yes... city roof gardens would improve life for us humans.. and the wild life as well.. Chrissy.. that dream has been going on for a good while now...back in the 60's..some 40 years ago now..I was the art director for Norman Mailers run for mayor of NYC... one of the items in our platform was green..green streets... and green roof tops... we had thoughts of migrating animals living up there.. plants bringing birds... insects.. furry animals..opening our world to the long time inhabitants of the area... animals and systems we have completly displaced.. but as you said we must have been dreamming... the support for it then was almost non existant... it was easier to work in other fields... I left NYC with my 3 year old son.. and moved for awhile to AL.. where I designed and built mother a solar home..with many ways of collecting and storing energy.... the full greenhouse across the front of it is about the only aspect she wasable to keep up.. and even that has aspects that is mostly unused now with me away from there.. to manage and keep it up... it takes extra work to manage... if it isn't all completly automatic....very expencive...and nearly impossible back them before wide spread computer availability... most aren't willing give that effort.. it's easier just to pay the energy company for the juice..
the sad story.. Gordon
Gordon,... and then sometimes it is cheaper by a big margin to pay the electric company. I said electric company because we don't have the option of using gas which is hilarious because we have two 6" gas pipelines crossing our property. Gas every where, but not in a usable form nor in a line from a utility company.
Then sometimes things work out and one can go green. A few years ago, I found a 280' deep freshwater well in the middle of one of our pastures. It was a great find because in our area it costs between $5,000 - $8,000 to drill a well that deep, but to take advantage of my find, we had to find a way to pump the water out. Wind power was out because it is not very reliable in our part of the country. When my DH did the math, it was a toss up whether to go electric or solar. To run an electric line 1/4 mile to the well cost about the same as buying and installing solar panels. So we went solar. Now we have to find a way to keep large birds from roosting on and soiling the topside of the panels while they wait their turn to get at the water.
Have you had a chance to look for a neighborhood wiz near your mother. One willing to keep the equipment running?
Gordonhawk----where can I get that beautiful, but unusual, Brug that you pictured on Sept. 6?
Shirleyd
Starkville, Mississippi
Shirleyd....OH.. that was a bit of a joke.. it's what some of the flowers do in the day time.. or before they open completly.. that one is one I have called TexasPink.. it's about my best bloomer.. I got it from a man in TX ....he's not about any longer.. Gordon
Did you finally figure what his name was?.... yes, another question :-)
This message was edited Sep 9, 2008 10:36 PM
No Betty.. I didn't.. I asked the group here.. I was sure one of the older bunch would remember who it was I was talking about.... But noone seemed to remember either... I did geta funny story from Ken..saying it looked and behaved just like a NOID he got at a flea market , I believe , there in TX... whoever it was sent me some of my first cuttings one fall.. to go with my Cypress Gardens [ my first ]and a few others...
Shrileyd...Here it is open for you.. Gordon
Oh Shirley... do you know Montivista near you there. it's an old family home of mine of a few generations ago.. during the old war..
This message was edited Sep 10, 2008 8:49 AM
I think you have some real winners in here. I sure hope your working with these to further these traits. Keep it up!