CITY Issue 56

FASHIONABLE FLOWERS Flowers really depend upon the designer’s taste each year, as we aren’t really bombarded with “billboards” of flower trends. Lately, I’ve been designing a lot of gardens with succulents, such as Sedum, and fragrant herbs like Lavender and Sage. * If you want your flowers to bloom all summer long, plant TAKE A SEAT predominantly annuals. If you like to see change throughout the season, and consistently have flowers coming and going, plant 75 percent perennials and 25 percent annuals, and change the annuals at the end of the season. TIGHT QUARTERS? Even if you don’t have roof access, your garden options are plentiful — no fire escape, balcony, or apartment is too small: * If square footage is tight, concentrate on just one really nice showpiece pot and plant. Try Manhattan Euonymus or Euonymus japonica. They are evergreens and don’t require much attention. * Vines are wonderful for maximizing color and lushness without taking up too much space, especially if there is a railing to wrap them around. For perennials, try a combination of wisteria and trumpet vine because wisteria blooms in the spring, and the trumpet vine will bloom in late summer and into fall. For annuals, try morning glories, passion flower, and fragrant jasmine. * For furniture, metal chairs and tables that can fold and be stored easily LOUNGIN' AROUND An outdoor space is only as relaxing and comfortable as the seat you are sitting on. Here are a few of our favorite spots to find outdoor furniture that’s both durable and aesthetically pleasing, listed by style: High-end and modern (above): JANUS et Cie, www.janusetcie.com Contemporary and affordable: Crate & Barrel, www.crateandbarrel.com, and Pottery Barn, www.potterybarn.com Classic and teak: Smith & Hawken, www.smithandhawken.com * Don’t buy the furniture too soon — it’s easy to miscalculate the size before work well. To brighten the space, many small metal bistro tables and chairs come in fun colors like red and chartreuse. * Outside or inside, elevated window boxes provide more floor space. If you have a bike, store it some other place than your small balcony. It always frustrates me to see cool spaces wasted with clutter. the landscape is in place, which could crowd your space. * For cushions, go with solid colors or subtle patterns; loud stripes can DON'T MAKE THESE MISTAKES * Don’t plant shade-tolerant plants in the sun. Sunlight on a rooftop is compete too much with the plants and other textures. The hot trend for the last five years is to create gardens that double as exterior living rooms. There used to be only a handful of outdoor furniture companies that sold couches, coffee tables, and large chairs with big “sunbrella” fabric to sink into with ottomans. Now everyone is marketing furniture in that fashion. ruthless. * Don’t plant mostly flowers that bloom only in July and August. Roof gardens are much more enjoyable in the spring and fall, when temperatures are comfortable. * Don’t go crazy and plant too many different colors unless you like the look of Easter madness. Picking out a color palette, or choosing a few or even just one color is often much more relaxing and aesthetically pleasing. * Don’t buy a tree that won’t fit in your elevator. If you want really tall trees, TOOLS & SUPPLIES Protect your hands with Atlas garden gloves. Made of a breathable polyester/ cotton seamless knit, their palms and fingertips are dipped in rubber to keep your hands dry and nails dirt-free. Machine washable. Go to www.lfsinc.com/atlasgloves The Swiss company Felco manufactures pruning tools trusted by avid gardeners. Available in both right- and left-handed models. Go to www.felcostore.com Neptune’s Harvest is an all-natural organic fertilizer that contains a blend of fish and seaweed to help your plants grow quickly and strong. Go to www.neptunesharvest.com birch grows very fast. * Don’t forget that although bamboo is aesthetically pleasing, it won’t survive well on a roof. If exposed to too much wind and winter frost, it won’t necessarily die, but it won’t look appealing for many months of the year. Also, its strength can kill other plants and pull apart planters. TELL US ABOUT YOUR CITY GARDEN Have a rooftop, balcony, or fire escape oasis of your own? Kate Ewald inspired you to finally get your fingers dirty? Send photos of your new (or old) space, along with your own best advice for aspiring urban gardeners to gardens@city-magazine.com. We’ll post our favorites at www.city-magazine.com. CITY TY 39 http://www.janusetcie.com http://www.crateandbarrel.com http://www.potterybarn.com http://www.smithandhawken.com http://www.lfsinc.com/atlasgloves http://www.felcostore.com http://www.neptunesharvest.com http://www.city-magazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CITY Issue 56

City Issue 56 Contents Letter from City: Re: Design Our Friends: The Faces Behind the Stories Action: What's New, What's Hot, What's Now Wanted: Olympic Bound? Button Up City Moment: The Writing’s on the Wall How We Live: Concrete Jungle Fast Food: Bites of Spring The Amused Bouche: Blueprint Special In Rouge: Hero Worship Fashion: Welcome to the Boys’ Club Travel: My Pod Architecture: Out of the Blue Design: Home Remedies Tokyo Rising Zen and the Art of Catholicism Think Big Face Value Runaways Intimate Relations Where to Buy It: Store Locations Icon: The Infinity Pool

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