We’re visiting with Terrie Lewine today:
I live in the Fishtown neighborhood of Philadelphia, in a rowhome. I call my garden the Urban Sanctuary. The garden is a work in progress (as I imagine all gardeners say!). I’ve been here for more than six years, and I adore it. The garden is a mix of shade and sun. In the front I have raised beds for the usual herbs and veggies. I have two big trees, a holly (Ilex opaca, Zones 5–9), and a Norway maple (Acer pseudoplatanus, Zones 4–7) that were here before me, kiwi berry vines (Actinidia sp.,), roses, many natives, a pagoda with a hammock, and an outdoor soaking tub. Lots to explore!
My focus has been food (for all beings), native species, and beauty.
This is an urban space, but there is a lot of beautiful garden beyond that gate.
An urban sanctuary indeed—green and lush; it is a wonderful place to sit, relax, and enjoy.
A few fish live in the water feature, while next to them a pot full of golden creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Zones 3–9) glows like a puddle of sunshine.
One of the residents of the water feature is the native pickerel weed (Pontedetia cordata, Zones 3–10), which has spikes of beautiful purple flowers.
More of the pickerel weed
Clouds of white astilbe blooms (Astilbe, Zones 4–9)
Double-flowered columbine (Aquilegia hybrid, Zones 3–8), with blooms in a sweet sugar pink
There’s nothing like the drama of a perfect rose blossom; here, the hints of golden color echo the creeping Jenny below.
There is food in the garden as well; here, a cucumber is ready to be picked and enjoyed.
Some plants provide food for humans and other beings. This carpenter bee is enjoying the pollen on those white flowers that will, thanks to the pollinating efforts of the bee, develop into delicious blackberries.
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Comments
Lovely. Great use of space.
If I walked past your garden gate I'd be so curious of what garden surprises were beyond and out of sight! So glad I get to tour it virtually on line!!
It really his a fitting name "Urban Oasis...food, flowers and a water feature!
Love those Double-flowered Columbine!
Thanks. I do have a gate door that people consistently peer in. It's part of the fun and often I get to meet neighbors that way. I have found that people 'know' my place because of the passionflower 'fence'. Although I will take it all down for the winter. A new one grows every spring.
Beautiful. I bet it hums with activity.
What a charming garden filled with gorgeous blooms for the pollinators! Don't you just love the bright yellow of Creeping Jenny? It has always been my fave trailer and makes other plants just 'pop'! I'm curious, do you have to bring the fish inside for the winter? I've had some neighbors that do and some that don't.
Thank you! I do love the Creeping Jenny. It's kind of the gift that keeps on giving, and grows almost anywhere. Where I am and the depth of my ponds makes it so they can stay outside all winter. They slow down quite a bit, no food, and in the spring they are happy to come back up and play. I've had the ponds for about 5 winters now.
Love your little fish pond! What a charming respite from city life you've created - just beautiful.
Thank you so much. It is very nourishing (and lucky) to have this private outdoor space in a bustling and often noisy place to live. I get to play in the dirt!
Thanks everyone for your comments! It really has been wonderful to have such a big space in a city where backyards tend to be 9' deep and cement. Over the years I have learned about sun and shade, and by luck what each plant looks like and where they should go. It's this time of year when I am just waiting for the right time to do the pruning that I dream of for next year and the new seeds I will plant. It is so fun, and rewarding and at times, so much work. Like when the million leaves start to fall from the maple tree. So grateful to have this space!
Lovely! And that double bloom columbine😍. Haven’t seen that before. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you! To be honest, neither did I. I planted seeds and these came up and boy oh boy did I fall in love. I saved seeds from those and planted more all around, yet these are the ones that just come up each year. Flowers!?! They are so magical.
Your garden is so charming. Although you have such a large variety in a relatively small area,nothing looks cramped and each plant & flower pristine
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