Urban Courtyard Garden
The Linden Courtyard Calendar
This Urban Courtyard Garden was created in a Victorian city apartment building’s outdoor common area. This historic renovation began with removal of the entire existing garden. Waterproofing the courtyard under-structure was next. Our goal was to create a place where the residents should both gather and have some private space to grill, relax and enjoy the seasons. In the actual installation phase we created a weekly calendar to inform all the tenants of our progress.
Week one May 5,
The Plan: deliver and grade
Landed this week:
The European hornbeams have been dug and delivered! These trees will line the outer wall of the courtyard giving some screening from the parking area and a touch of Parisian style (they line many of the streets in Paris).
A candelabra branched Dogwood has been selected to grace newly installed landing. This tree will also offer some screening and privacy for the townhouses. The evergreen workhorses, Ilex Steeds, are also in.
The unique evergreen specimen is in our holding yard and is a beauty. It will be installed after grading. Picea Abies ‘Pendula”
First things first:
The soil will be hand graded and banked in the planting beds. The weekend rains have it a bit wet to move but we are keeping a close eye on this for appropriate timing. We can then grade and place for planting
The standard topiary lilacs, Rheingold Arborvitae and Hostas are also in our holding yard for safekeeping. These will be brought on there respective day of planting
Perennials:
Our grower has just started shipping and we have two scheduled ship dates (week two and week three of May) for the perennials depending on there readiness in the nursery.
Cynthia’s’ Musings:
There is a grand excitement in the building of a garden. There is also a sequence of planting and placing that all must fall into place. I am always anxious to see the garden completed, as I know you all are. I write this update in hopes of quenching your desire to relax in the gardens and to offer some horticultural information that may answer some of your questions and last but not least keep you in the loop and excited.