How To Start Urban Gardening

Courtesy of the City of New York

Cities aren't exactly known for lush scenery—they don't call it a concrete jungle for nothing. But as horticultural technology improves and global warming becomes a bigger concern, a new trend has emerged: urban green spaces. Not only are urban gardens good for Mother Earth—by helping reduce water pollution and improve air quality—they're also beautiful works of art. Whether you're a city-dweller or suburbanite, celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day with these inspiring metropolitan oases.

The Athenaeum Hotel, London

French architectural botanist Patrick Blanc created this "living wall" at London's Athenaeum Hotel in 2009. Reaching up eight floors, this vertical garden wraps around the hotel's exterior and covers 2,799 square feet. The wall was planted using a self-irrigation process that allows plants to grow without soil on a vertical surface. More than 260 plant species from around the world are featured, including rare varieties and those from temperate and tropical climates. Photo courtesy of The Athenaeum.

The High Line, New York City

The High Line on Manhattan's West Side was originally constructed in 1934 as a railway to move freight trains off city streets due to a high number of accidents. The line was shut down in 1980, and in 1999, it was slated for demolition. This sparked a decade-long rescue effort, which culminated in saving the railway and transforming it into a public park. The park, designed by James Corner Field Operations and Diller Scofidio + Renfro, debuted in 2009 and is replete with multiple gardens featuring 210 sustainable species. Photo courtesy of the City of New York.

Pothole Art Gardens, Oxford, England

After the pothole situation got out of control in Oxford this winter due to repeatedly freezing and melting ice, artist and cyclist Pete Dungey came up with a very interesting solution: Turn the holes into flowerpots. He told The Guardian, "I wanted to do something that would grab attention but also raise awareness of an issue." Dungey currently works alone, but he's hoping other people will follow his lead and is requesting pictures of other pothole planters via his website. Photo courtesy of Pete Dungey.

City Hall, Chicago

Chicago is really living up to its official motto of "Urbs in Horto," which is Latin for "City in a Garden." Planted in 2000, the Chicago City Hall rooftop garden was designed to test different types of green roof systems. It took seven design and manufacturing teams to create the sprawling garden, which consists of 20,000 plants and 150 species including flowers, shrubs, vines and trees. Photo courtesy of Conservation Design Forum.

Ginza Rice Farm, Tokyo

Iimura Kazuki, the founder of Ginza Rice Farm, created this rustic rice paddy on an empty lot in Tokyo's commercial district. He even uses ducks to weed the rice paddy and provide natural fertilizer. Shop clerks, construction workers, office staff and neighbors visit this unique public space for a taste of nature. Iimura also rents rooftop vegetable plots to urban residents who want to grow their own food. Photo courtesy of Jared Braiterman/Tokyo Green Space.

Gossamer Threads, Vancouver

This rooftop patio, designed and built by Gro2, includes both a green roof and "living wall" for a lush retreat in the heart of the city's downtown. It uses a system of interconnecting panels made of aluminum and stainless steel. The panels can accommodate a wide variety of species, including tropical plants, ornamentals, edible crops (fruits, vegetables and herbs), sedums, groundcovers and grasses. Photo courtesy of Plant Connection Inc.

PNC Living Wall Garden, Pittsburgh

Designed by Kari Elwell Katzander of Mingo Design in 2009, this 2,300-square-foot vertical garden is the largest in North America. Also called a "sky farm," it's made of 602 panels of contained soil that are anchored to the building by stainless steel brackets and panels. The roots intertwine with the structure and water drips through the panels, draining into a catch basin at the bottom. Design by Kari Elwell Katzander with Mingo Design, LLC, photo courtesy of Plant Connection Inc.

Pont Max Juvénal, Aix-en-Provence, France

Since 1988, Patrick Blanc has created dozens of botanical tapestries in public and private spaces around the world, including this vertical garden on a bridge in Aix-en-Provence, France. "I like to reintegrate nature where one least expects it," Blanc told The New York Times. The garden is composed of three parts: a metal frame, vinyl polymer to waterproof the structure and a layer of felt where the roots grow. Photo courtesy of Patrick Blanc.

Pizza by Cer té, New York City

Crafted by Kari Elwell Katzander of Mingo Design, this pizzeria's herb wall spans 2 x 8 feet and grows basil, oregano and thyme, which are used in the restaurant's dishes. Pizza by Cer té is also Manhattan's first "green" pizzeria, using locally grown ingredients, recyclable boxes and biodegradable utensils. Design by Kari Elwell Katzander, photo courtesy of Mingo Design, LLC.

Sidewalk Garden, Tokyo

In the world's largest mega-city, Tokyo residents will create gardens in any small public spaces they can find, regardless of whether they are outside of apartment buildings, shops or homes. Even a crack in the sidewalk as small as this can be a place to grow a flower. Photo courtesy of Jared Braiterman/Tokyo Green Space.

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How To Start Urban Gardening

Source: https://www.womansday.com/home/a1489/10-magnificent-urban-gardens-106157/

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