Victorian Society: The elusive green thumb

Victorians loved everything 'green'. The "Fern Craze" of the Victorian era is a good example. Ferns would be on display EVERYWHERE in the parlor. On tables, in elaborate Urns set on the floor, on Fern stands. Elaborate wooden stands with ornate incised carving. Ferns were a "status symbol" in the day and Victorian often coveted the exotic hard to grow varieties. Outside cool shade gardens filed with rocks and ferns provided a restful place on a warm day.

Victorians took their love of plants to another level with the Victorian terrariums. Elaborate "eco systems' in large glass jars or elaborate table top mini conservatories where Victorians not only grew ferns but also exotic plants.

Among the "upper crust of Victorian society, private greenhouses were all the rage. Perhaps the best known is the greenhouse at Biltmore shown in this photo I took a few falls ago. Biltmore was working farm and some plants were sold for market but a huge quantity was grown in order to provide year round fresh flowers for the Mansion.

Today, thanks to mass production it is possible to have your very own Victorian greenhouse in kit form. This very popular model is available through most online garden stores. Prices vary WIDELY for this same greenhouse. Best price I've found for the 8x10 foot model is around 3500 at Sam's club online. They also ofter a much simpler version of this with polycarb panels for around 650.00. I have built some of these for clients over the years and its a good do it yourself for an advanced ability homeowner. Personally I think these are best on a poured foundation. You can attach these to a house for a conservatory effect but you need special heating/cooling and humidity controls to make these work.

The ultimate in Victorian Luxury is the Conservatory which truly brought the outside world in year round. Conservatories were often off a main parlor and were the ultimate status symbol for the Victorian era home.

These are not "sun rooms' that we associate with modern day tract homes, but rooms for the serious garden enthusiast wishing to recreate the grandeur of the Victorian Era, Costs on these elaborate structures can start as low as 25,000 but can quickly exceed 500,000.00. If price is no object then this is the ultimate however for most of us it will be 'just a dream".

Urban gardening: Spring is coming!!!

It is not far away! We have already experienced that occasional warm day. Now is the time to be planning your spring and summer gardening projects. Urban gardeners face unique challenges from those in the burbs. Gardening space is smaller and you need to get the most bang for the buck. One thing you should do now, in preparation for spring, is look at your gardening tools. Clean shovels, make sure the tires are good on that wheelbarrow. If you have a wrought iron fence or picket fence use those first warm days to scape and paint it. It is much easier before your plants go in and much cooler than the dog days of summer.

Now while we all might like that grand Victorian estate garden like this one at Biltmore, most of us have to deal with a small lot and planning is the key. Urban homes usually have small front yards. Think of your front yard as a "entry way". Long before your guests are at your front door they have really already entered your home. Your front garden should be bright and inviting. If space allows consider an arbor over your front walk. Flower boxes are great for those who have no front yard and you should look for low maintenance plants.

Many homes in an urban setting often are by busy streets, consider using water to create" white noise". Fountains are great and can take the shape of a grand fountain like this Victorian 4 tier or a smaller urn with a bubbler.

Done in phases, most people can achieve low maintenance attractive garden and while you neighbor is out mowing the grass and trimming, you can be relaxing in your garden. Most urban homes have two, sometimes three "outdoor rooms" The front, the back and sometimes a side garden. By treating these as separate projects it is easier to get a sense of satisfaction in a hurry. Gardening is a great "Urban Revitalization" tool. You will find when you fix up your yard the neighbors become a little jealous, gardening is infectious and don't be surprised when that neighbor whom you thought didn't care at all starts keeping their place a little cleaner.

Don't forget that your porch can be an enjoyable outside room, Today there area variety of Victorian era furniture, Wicker is a great option and the new resin based products are very durable to the elements. Consider using an outdoor "rug" on your porch space, especially if you have a concrete floor that you would like to hide. Porch swings are "very victorian" and you can even find them at your local "big box" home depot or Lowes. Hanging baskets add a colorful accent.

Whether its a small "vignette" or a grand garden space. A garden can be a relaxing way to slow down at the end of a busy day. Soon we will begin our series on the Gardens at Knox Hill. We have extensive plans for our double lot that includes ponds, a sunken garden, a side formal courtyard with fountain and an outdoor gazebo space with formal gardens. It should be an exciting summer at Knox Hill.

Knox Hill Neighborhood Association Spring "CAP" Project

One of the early goals of the Knox Hill Neighborhood Association is the implementation of a Knox Hill "CAP" project. "CAP" stands for 'Community Appearance Plan'. This plan will be developed with neighborhood input but essentially outlines some short and long term goals for the area.

"Streetside Greenspace": Knox Street and the side streets all have some sort of greenspace between the sidewalk and street. The goal is to clear these areas of weeds and make them as low maintenance as possible with the addition of weed block covered by low maintenance mulch and planted with low maintenance ground cover and flowers, Special emphasis placed on flowering beds at intersections.

'Native Plant Garden" This project will involve the repair and restoration of the McBrayer Steps, restoration of the sidewalk(currently blacktopped) with brick and the creation of a "native garden" greenspace on both side of McBrayer at Knox utilizing plantings native to the Ohio River area.

"The Picket project". Will encourage property owners to restore existing wrought iron fences and gates, as well as the elimination of "chain link" fencing to be replaced with Picket Fencing. The neighborhood plans a couple of "Picket Project Days" to replace chain link fencing with picket fences for some elderly homeowners whose fencing has fallen into disrepair, as well as assist them with low maintenance gardening plants for their front yards.

Flower Bank: Establishment of a flower bulb and seed bank to provide free bulbs and seeds for neighbors wishing to plant front yard gardens. Neighbors with gardens as well as gardening clubs, will donate seeds to the bank and the neighborhood plans on approaching local nurseries and landscapers for donation of "throwaways" plants past their prime for resale.


Adopt a Block: Develop "adopt a block" opportunities for local businesses and community organizations to do planting parties or neighborhood clean ups. on targeted blocks in the neighborhood.

The long term goal is a 'visual makeover" of the neighborhood to encourage new home owners and developers to come into the neighborhood with high end restorations and new infill construction.

Comeback kids: Flowers and Old houses

As you can see my carnations are a bloom! nothing special until you know that these are from last year and they are still alive! I bought the basically indoor plants last year and used them in pots on either side of the front steps , after they were done blooming, they were just greenery. I changed the plants out but since they were obviously alive I didnt have the heart to pitch them. So I threw them in a flower box I built on the back deck. I couldnt seem to get anything to thrive there, because of the heat generated by the deck in the morning. Amazingly they survived. Well when fall came aroung I normally put in pansys or ornamanetal kale in that box but I decided what the heck, lets just leave them in there.

Despite our cold winter and snow and ice, they made it through the winter (they did turn a little brown in the middle of winter) but, Lo and Behold this spring they turned green as did the two I put out in the back yard by the pond and waterfall. As you can see, against the odds, they are blooming! Flowers are alot like old houses and neighborhoods, just when you think they can't make it they come back!

New Urbanism and OTR the details count.

I wanted to expand a bit about why urban centers need to take the "long view" of neighborhod planning. For areas like Over-the Rhine to come back it will take more than just restoration and redevelopment projects, there needs to be effective long range infrastructure planning as when the neighborhood is repopulated there will be new challenges of getting people from point A to B within the area.

Indianapolis has done a remarkable job on "Quality of Life" issues. They have developed an effective trail system. the most recent accomplishment is the early stages of the Cultural Trail. this ambitious project was designed, and funed privately and it points to what can be done. http://www.indyculturaltrail.org/ This project basically encourages people to explore their urban environement and Art is placed at various location throught out the trail which winds from the downtown business center through neighborhoods to connect to the Monon Trail http://www.indygreenways.org/monon/monon.htm a ten mile trail that connect indy with the suburbs to the North.

It is not unusual to see people biking to work from the burbs in summer. This is a positive trend in my view.

Cincinnati needs to start planning how to make Over the Rhine 'whole'. By that I mean bike trails Urban walking trails, thumbnail parks. There are plenty of vacant parcel in OTR that will make excellent thumbnail parks that could be maintained by neighborhood groups or Block clubs AT NO COST to the city. This would also assure that there will be green spaces within neighborhoods. It actually is a remarkable oportunity at this point before developers snap up every available lot to build Mid Rise buildings on. Serious thought and planning needs to go into this at a neighborhood level.