Striking the set, reviewing the show

Patti blogging (and reminding readers that the GG blog will end July 31):

Over the weekend, I started weeding the garden on my fire escape/stairway landing, but not in the usual way. I tossed whole containers, and as I perspired, I analyzed. The cheapo plastic flower boxes I dumped had an uncorrectable design flaw: hollow feet, where moisture could collect, and in spots too fragile for drain holes to be drilled. I wish they had been recyclable, but I don't like to pass along problems. I didn't take a big financial hit, either; these containers came from a dollar-item store. I'll invest in ceramic or wood for next year.

More mulling: I grew cherry tomatoes in a hanging basket; they're doing well, though they might like a deeper growing receptacle next year. Sweet peppers and mint, in elevated flower boxes, are healthy. And the chocolate pepper, in a container that I moved around on the landing, is robust. I wish it were producing more than one pepper at a time, but it's doing fine.

Now, the crops that died – cukes and okra – had two things in common: They were planted in the design-flawed flower boxes, and the boxes sat directly on the landing. During the day, the landing was too hot for bare feet, and now I suspect it might've fried the roots of the plants in their containers. The boxes were nested – each sat inside another plastic box – but still. The landing is wrought iron, and painted black.

The lavender plant, which also sat directly on the landing, looked great until about a week ago, when it began to shrivel. Watering didn't revive it by the next day, so I backed off. And I moved it to the brick windowsill next to the catnip that's been going like gangbusters. Three days later, the lavender still looks ailing, but it doesn't look worse; maybe it'll recover.

I was still thinking about the hot landing when I consulted a library book I had just picked up, in my habit of borrowing books before buying them. Earlier this month I mentioned the work of Gayla Trail, who has a blog and a book called "You Grow Girl." Love the blog, based in Toronto, for its gardeny usefulness. Now, with her book in hand, I am reading a sidebar called "Perfect Plants for a Fire Escape." It is uncanny, and why didn't I find this months ago?

"Fire escapes are a particularly harsh environment – windy, intensely hot, and dry. The metal soaks up heat and reflects it twofold onto plants. But if it's all you've got, go for it! I've seen fire-escape gardens with climbing vines and hanging plants that could put a suburbanite to shame."

It goes on to list some "varieties that can take the heat," most of which are flowers (including marigold, which has a reputation for repelling bugs). Plus lavender, rosemary, tomatillo and tomato.

Now I know: Don't place containers directly on a metal landing. When I type it, it looks embarrassingly obvious. Another obvious thing: I'm buying the book.

Also, a consolation thought: My timing in finding Trail's advice was slow, but my instincts were moving in the right direction. (I suddenly hear Bridget Jones' voice in my head ... " ... ah! New Year's Resolution: drink less ... and quit smoking ... and quit talking total nonsense to strangers ... actually, quit talking, full stop.") Thanks, IMDb.

For next year, maybe I should paint the landing white? I thought about adding one of those cheap, seagrassy-type mats, but I don't like the idea of it getting rained on and harboring mold or some other unwelcome life form. Maybe just keep the floor level clear.

Or ... a new apartment with more garden-friendly spaces? Now I know I've got it baaad.

patti.tims@pilotonline.com

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