| timmy19147 wants you to know: |
- my homepage is: www.4mula.com
- The current local time for me is 06:07 PM
- I'm in zone 6b
- I live in Philadelphia, PA (Zone 6b)
- My birthday is April 16
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"Intermediate urban gardener interested in the application of horticulture and green roofing to modernist urban architecture. More specifically, sustainable architecture applications in using plants to temper environmental conditions such as natural heating and cooling in adverse conditions to reduce energy usage. Aesthetic sensibilities lean toward japanese minimalism balanced by dutch utilitarianism. Work with somewhat of a restricted pallette of green based on a somewhat narrowly focused vision of green-meets-architecture. Primary design concern focuses on the relationship between inside/outside space. Enjoy (with varying degrees of success) pushing the boundaries of scale and habit of trees and perennials within confined root spaces, less-than-ideal raised conditions with a greater than normal exposure to excessive sun in the summer and excessive wind chill effects in the winter; thus, my zone may be 6b in Philadelphia, yet I have to expand and contract the zone based on rooftop extremities.
Also, being a vegetarian, I am interested in organic and vegetarian methods for fertilization/soil conditioning. Still learning/ experimenting but committed and always seeking sources of chemical-free, organic additives to promote plant health, productivity and strength in challenging conditions.
Some success (in varying degrees) with the following :
Weeping White Pine
Hinoki Cypress
Deodora Cedar
Juniper
Willow Oak
Weeping Willow
Arctic Willow
Weeping Cherry
Eucalyptus
Lavender (with many, many failures)
Herbs
Azalea
Japanese Maples (not watered with City Water! let chlorine evaporate 24hrs 1st. The chlorine content causes defoliation)
Sweet Autumn Clematis
Annuals : Marigolds, Cosmos, Poppies and other seed started plants/flowers (although my aesthetics generally lean away from annuals and short-bloom flowers)
Perennials : lavender, herbs, trees, shrubs, bulbs (but same as above regarding short-bloom (bulbs the exception) not a fan of messy afterblooming perennials. areas with a limited space demand multi-season interest. my primary criteria for plant selection is foliage texture...preferably small-leafed evergreen, semi-evergreen ((short viewing distances on an urban roof)). The exception to this rule, however, are trees/perennials with an inherently interesting architecture to their branching when defoliated from fall-early spring.)
Also interested in cetified organic anything/everything, home-distillation of essential oils, indexing plants (see www.4mula.com/lab.html), seed-starting, natural dye-making from flowers/foliage, organic fetilization/ pest control methods, rain collection, composting. In short, I am inspired by the life-cycle, and enjoy the process of making spring life from fall death. i find all of the seasons offer interest and utility. Peak in 6B may be in june-september for growth output, but i enjoy observing the process, from growth-to the state of dormancy-and the return to life again.
Also interested in propagation methods, seed starting, grafting, hybridizing
Things I would have hatred for if they weren't living things :
hibiscus, petunias, begonias, elephant ears, many home depot annuals, many home depot perennials, arborvitae, topiaries and hedge shaping (training, grafting and selective pruning perfectly fine), most tropicals (namely non-native/non-overwintering big-leafed bromeliads such as canna lilies), passion flower and other showy big-leafed, large flowered clematis, potato vines
That's all...kind of a picky guy with a strong sense of design sensisibilities; nevertheless, if it's a living thing, it deserves respect. Anyway, if you're into any of the above, I'm always up for a good conversation and idea-sharing. Have a green day, Timmy
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| timmy19147 signed up on May 4, 2006 |
