a garden (hopefully?) grows in brooklyn

May 3rd, 2011 | Posted by Jill in garden - (1 Comments)

For the last several weeks, we’ve been watching our front garden fill up with dandelions and thorny weeds and creeping ivy. In past years, Zach and I have had a blast planting container gardens on our fire escape (and making boatloads of fresh summery pesto), but this project is much more daunting for new gardeners like us. We’re super excited!

Over the next few days, I hope to share our tentative plans for the front garden. Hopefully we’ll be able to upgrade it from an eyesore to a multi-functioning space for our herbs, veggies, and a few flowers to brighten the urban landscape! This weekend, we got a kick start on the herb-and-veggie portion of the plan. Can’t wait for those sweet peas and hot peppers to start blooming!

Now: off to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden for their annual plant sale!

blossoms and a little amaryllis cheer

March 24th, 2011 | Posted by Jill in garden - (1 Comments)

Speaking of spring, in the past two days the little amaryllis bulbs my parents brought me on their recent trip to Brooklyn have come into full bloom — even if they’re dreadfully late to the party! A cheap thrill, yes, but they always bring a smile to my face no matter what time of year!

brooklyn bonsai, in fall’s flush

November 17th, 2010 | Posted by Jill in brooklyn botanic garden | garden - (2 Comments)

Hot Tip: Magic is currently on display in the greenhouse of the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Over the weekend, I stumbled across the beautiful collection of bonsai displaying their amazing fall foliage in brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows. Breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Definitely recommended!

brooklyn bonsai
brooklyn bonsaibrooklyn bonsai
brooklyn bonsai

a fig tree grows in brooklyn

August 7th, 2010 | Posted by Jill in food + drink | garden | history - (7 Comments)

For the last couple of years that I’ve been reading 66 Square Feet religiously, it’s at this point in the summer that I get blindly jealous. Desperate with envy. Why? you ask. It’s her terrace fig tree.

Now, I know I could grow one myself. And I fully intend to start next summer. But I recently stumbled on an article (and then another, from the New York Times) about the history of fig trees in Brooklyn, and my curiosity was firmly rooted. Could I identify fig trees from the street? Are there any in my neighborhood? How about in the parks of Brooklyn? COULD I PICK SOME FOR MYSELF?!

So I embarked on a search. I know Park Slope, where I live, and neighboring Carroll Gardens, where I regularly bicycle, was once the provenance of many an Italian-American family. And since Italians immigrants began bringing fig trees with them to Brooklyn in the 1880′s, surely there must still be fig trees here. Right? Lo and behold:

a fig tree grows in brooklyn

After weeks of keeping an eye out for errant fig trees, I found two on my way to develop film. (a sign?) No ripe figs in sight, but certainly their overgrown boughs were heavy with fruit. I found two more on another long walk home, buttoned-up and well-pruned, but with succulent purple gems.

I couldn’t resist. I do recognize the gift. The summer is good.

oh, baby