URBAN GARDEN OF EDEN
all in Containers

by Suzette Trimmer
(Philadelphia, PA 19146)

Live in The heart of Center City Philadelphia. Our concrete jungle offers my green thumb an artistic outlet. Gardening is my hobby and sideline passion. My tip today is for the older gardener like myself who loves to rearrange them needed.

Containers are moved as weather conditions change or entertaining requires more space. My entire garden space is no more then a 12'x12' wooden fence on the South and North sides House on Eastern wall and a large shed on the West end. Two +/-20 year Bradford Pear Trees...one on north side and one on the south side for shade and to help keep house cool in summer. Literally the only two live items in the ground. All else in in a container of one sort or the other.

Standard store plastic, some terracotta and anything strange, are used as containers. My secret however is: regardless of size, I ALWAYS use or put in the bottom STYROFOAM of any kind. I get mine from stores or neighbors who would normally throw it out. I break up the pieces into small chucks and fill the large containers to the half way point. Then I add a "few" pebbles, then my compost dirt. This allows me to easily move any size container as needed.

For those I bring into the house, before first frost, this is when one is so grateful for those impressively large accomplishments that are so light in weight to move in the house throughout the long eastern coast winters.

I hope my simple recycling of non-biodegradable STYROFOAM helps all my fellow passionate urban gardeners. Ours is a task of making lemonade from lemons. Take pride in your one pot of pleasure or your entire green container jungle.

Hope to send my photos if anyone is interested.

Suzette Trimmer
Philadelphia,PA