Name: Sandy
Location: San Francisco
Type of space: Courtyard of Multi-Unit Building
Tell us about your outdoor project and how you enjoy it: My garden is about 5 years old now and it gives me great pleasure to create a beautiful outdoor space for the residents to enjoy. This neighborhood tends to be noisy and has it's problems with prostitution and drug addicts. This garden is an unexpected oasis amidst all of that. This is something I have to do, I really don't have a choice. It is in my blood. Every available space is utilized. Every window has a window box. It gives me a wonderful sense of accomplishment.
How did you create it?:
I call my garden the island of misfit plants. Friends give me plants. I work for an interior design firm that has a garden and when they are not beautiful enough, I bring them home. I use a lot of wrought iron plant stands and I find them at thrift stores and yard sales. I have cactus, succulents, ferns, etc. Everything does alright with very little light. When people move out of the building once in a while someone will leave behind a plant or two. Lots can be done with little or no money. I just keep my eyes open and always find what i need.
Recommended store, site, product or resource?
Nothing specific. The project is always evolving on it's own. Someday I will have to leave this space (I live in a rental). It doesn't make sense to do much planning and spending of my own money. So far so good.
Beautiful! It's difficult to do gardens in SF, especially in the neighborhood I think you're in (I remember seeing an ad for that building on craigslist a few months back).
Great job!!!
view adiaphane's profile
What a lovely green space in the City! Part of the reason I don't live there is that it's so barren (the other part being rent! O_o) but you've done such an amazing job of bringing life in. Bravo!
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile
Absolutely lovely and inspiring.
view leadingedge's profile
Good job at reclaiming what is usually a barren and depressing space. I know a lot of spaces in Brooklyn that could benefit from a similar treatment.
view AustinSarah's profile
FAntastic--good for heart and soul
view jen_g's profile
ooooooooooohhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
view baba yaga's profile
Lovely!! It's a breath of fresh air!
view junklover's profile
Sandy - just lovely! I have a 6 ft tall antique wrought iron Mexican bird cage to give you, if you would like to incorporate it into your garden space. I think it would fit in perfectly with what you have going on here. I'm probably close by - 18th/Capp St -? It is not safe/suitable to use for parrots because of the antique finish, but I kept my doves indoors in it for years (okay b/c they are softbills). They now have a nifty outdoor aviary I had custom built for them. So, I need to get rid of their old cage, but I have to make sure the person taking it is absolutely not ever going to house a parrot in it (this precludes me from donating it to rescue or selling it to a bird person). It would be perfect as a decorative piece in the garden with something like jasmine growing on it. Want it? Did I mention it's free -- yes, free?
view kasie_sf's profile
Great job. You are just the kind of neighbor I would love to have.
view dkzody's profile
Thank you everyone for your positive comments.
It means a lot to me.
Sandy
view Swood's profile
Kasie-sf, thank you for the offer of the bird cage. I don't have room for something that big!!
Thanks again, it sounds great!!
Sandy
view Swood's profile
You've done a wonderful job! I live in a rented apartment too, it is so hard to make any real improvemens without spending a ton of money. Thank you!
view pohon's profile