Photo credit: www.gardenista.com
Brooklyn Grange has earned a devoted following for its commitment to creating and nurturing sustainable urban green spaces. With a specialty in rooftop gardens, this innovative firm was founded in 2010 and has significantly expanded its impact. Their notable projects include the farms on rooftops like the Javits Center and Rosemary’s restaurant, as well as the headquarters of Vice Media. Currently, Brooklyn Grange operates two rooftop farms: one in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and another in Sunset Park. The organization’s mission centers on fostering a deeper connection between urban residents and the natural environment.
In this article, we are excited to feature insights from Junior Schouten, the head of horticulture and maintenance at Brooklyn Grange, who responds to our Quick Takes questionnaire. His advice for newcomers to gardening? “Get to know owners of perennial gardens—these plants tend to need dividing as they grow and can be shared.” Discover more of his recommendations, including a favorite plant that “grows quickly, blooms beautifully, and attracts pollinators.”
Your first garden memory:
Receiving cuttings from a neighbor’s hibiscus hedge while living in the Caribbean, sparked my early interest in gardening.
Garden-related book you return to time and again:
Taylor’s Guide to Perennials by Houghton Mifflin. This guide is an invaluable resource for concise information on a variety of gardening topics.
Instagram account that inspires you:
@nativeplanttrust provides insightful, region-specific plant information that beautifully aligns aesthetics with sustainable gardening practices.
Describe in three words your garden aesthetic.
Seasonal pollinator magnets.
Plant that makes you swoon:
I’m particularly enamored with dinner plate dahlias—they are impressively large and surprisingly simple to cultivate.
Plant that makes you want to run the other way:
English ivy tends to make me sneeze uncontrollably while maintaining it. Instead, I often recommend less allergenic alternatives like Boston ivy or Virginia creeper to our clients.
Favorite go-to plant:
Salvias are excellent! Garden sage not only grows rapidly and blooms vibrantly, but also serves as an edible pollinator magnet—making it a top choice for our projects.
Hardest gardening lesson you’ve learned:
When faced with an influx of chipmunks, all plans for growing tomatoes may go awry, as they tend to leave their mark on each fruit.
Unpopular gardening opinion:
I believe roses are overrated. I feel confident stating this for those who share the sentiment.
Gardening or design trend that needs to go:
The practice of volcano mulching trees—creating a pyramid of mulch around a tree trunk—can be harmful and is not as impressive as some might think. It’s advisable to hire professionals like Brooklyn Grange to avoid such practices.
Source
www.gardenista.com