MUG | Mike's Urban Garden | MUG: September 2012

September 19, 2012

Hayes Valley Roof Garden

Newly sow greens and vegetables on the roof of the Zen Center with views of City Hall, Nob Hill and Russian Hill.

Momiji Maple Nursery

The entrance to Momiji Nursery is marked by this large Hollywood Juniper.

In Hayes Valley along the old Caltrans right of way, the city allows urban farming until the parcel of land is sold to developers. This little community garden makes the otherwise bleak walk from the Mission to Hayes Street a lot more interesting.

Look at those really short sunflowers!

Heron's Head Park

Recently restored wetlands where the PG&E power plant used to be. It's gone. That's Hunter's point on the horizon.

My path

Garden Fluffer, Personal Gardener, Fine Gardening, Market Gardener these are some of the names I have toyed with as my official title or job description. Most would classify me as a maintenance gardener. But i do things much different than your basic gardening crew. It is all about the process or procedures that I use to make my green spaces.

Simple things, done well. A gardener’s influence on a space is through control. Pruning, thinning, dividing and moving plants around to create an authentic natural look. But this is far from Nature. Step lightly and preen like a large herbivore. Leave all clippings around its source to replenish and shade the soil, creating a good environment for seeds to germinate. Only remove weed seed heads, diseased material and anything sharp like rose thorns, all other green material is made into compost either in a formal pile or as a light mulch. Nothing looks more authentic than a plant mulched with it’s own leaves and twigs. That is my gardening process. Simply well.

This is on top of picking the right plant in the right place. When I am looking to fill a void, no matter if it’s an annual or perennial, tree or shrub, evergreen or deciduous; I start with California and Western US native plants. If nothing fits my requirements (exposure, water, form and floral timing, client preferences) then I look at plants from the other Mediterranean regions of the world.

This blog is my chance to show my work and those things that inspire and influence.