GardenDesignOnline

California's Largest Green Roof

California Academy of Sciences
The new California Academy of Sciences building in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park opened last weekend -- with the largest green roof in the state.  The roof itself spans 2.5 acres, featuring seven hills covered with more than one million native California plants.

The undulating roof was designed by architect Renzo Piano, with the aim of integrating the building into the landscape of the park.  The only difference between the plants on the ground and on the roof is that the roof plants are all California natives.  Academy botanist Frank Almeda explained that his goal was "to choose native plants that were well adapted to the climate in Golden Gate Park and would provide much-needed habitat for native birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects." He added that another goal was to "select species that would look attractive throughout the year, since a visually appealing roof is a much more powerful educational tool." 

Thirty species were tested on the roof of the old Academy before a final nine were selected -- all plants that can survive on the roof's steep slopes without artificial irrigation or fertilization.  The nine winners are:

• Self heal. (Prunella vulgaris) - shown left. Attractive to hummingbirds and bumble bees.
• Beach strawberries (Fragaria chiloensis).  Berries attract native birds.
• Sea pink (Armeria maritima) Flower attract moths and butterflies.
• Stonecorp (Sedum spathulifolium) Produces nectar for Hairstreak butterfly and threatened San Bruno elfin butterfly.l

Pocket Parks of NYC

In case you missed it, you might want to clip or save the article on small NYC parks that was in last Sunday's New York Times.  One of the parks profiled is one of my all-time favorites, Paley Park, pictured here.  And you can read the article about it that I posted a couple of years ago here.

Paley is on 53rd between 5th & Madison Avenues, and it's just a short hop to Greenacre Park, on East 51st between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.  And like Paley, it's a great place for lunch.

The Times article outlines several others --

• 1251 Ave. of the Americas (49th-50th)
• Sony Plaza (E. 55-56 between 5th & Madison)
• Sutton Place Parks (E. end of 57th & other streets)
• Tudor City Greens (above E. 42nd, between 1st & 2nd)
• Worldwide Plaza (W. 49th-50th between 8th & 9th)
• And link to the Times slide show of the spaces here.

Keep a list of these on your I-pod or whatever -- good places to sit and rest while walking around the city, without having to hike up to Central Park.

And a couple of other small parks of note:

• 520 Madison (opposite 12 E. 53rd):  This plaza has a piece of the Berlin Wall. The side with graffiti faced West Berlin; the plain concrete side faced east.
• 535 Madison @ 54th St, NE corner -- note the waterfall from across the street.
• Community Gardens -- 6th St. and Avenue B

And have fun.

New Plants 09

New in the Retail Garden Centers - Spring 09
Introductions from Spring Meadow Nursery

Soft Serve™ Chamaecyparis (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Dow Whiting')

 Finally.  A reason to rip out those dwarf Alberta spruces. This lovely, cone-shaped Sawara Falsecypress has foliage that's bright green on the topside, and a silver-blue color on the underside.  It's slow growing, but will eventually reach a height of about six to ten feet. It's hardy to zone 5, prefers moist, well-drained soil, and takes full sun to part shade.  It does need protection from winter sun and winds. Sounds like a real winner to me.  It's a sport of C. 'Boulevard' that was discovered by Dow Whiting of Great View Nursery in Highlandville, MO.

Bronze Anniversary™ Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora 'Rika1')

I tried to get this last spring for a client and was deeply disappointed to learn that it wouldn't be available in the trade until 2009. I can't wait to see this plant in person ... leaves emerge a bronzy-orange color and then turn lime green as the year progresses.  The abelia blooms are white, instead of the usual pink.  Three to four feet high, hardy to zone 6, semi-evergreen in the south.  Takes full sun to part shade and prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soil.  Abelias are so versatile -- and so attractive, this one should be a great addition to the many new ones introduced in recent years.  Bred by Rita Bronsther of Long Island, NY.