Fire Escape Garden – Midsummer 2003

These pictures show my New York fire escape garden in mid-summer. They also illustrate some of the gadgets that help plants to make their home in this inhospitable and unlikely place.

Strawberries

Strawberry plants suspended in midair ring the balcony.

To hold the planters firmly in place, I started by running a loop of heavy chain underneath the lip, making sure that it fit snugly. A small U-bolt goes through a hole in each corner of the planter and through a link in the heavy chain. These are connected by lighter chain to U-bolts attached to the balcony railing.

Herb Garden

An herb garden rests on a platform that spans the empty space between the bannister and walkway. Green bamboo, cut lengthwise in a C shape, conceals the black painted bannister railings.

Urban Basil

A young basil plant in a Chinese pot is tucked into a corner of the stairway.

Tomato Cage

Chain run from the railing to the floor of the level above forms the outline of a tomato cage. Horizontals are formed of chain or of bamboo fastened with galvanized wire.

Hot Curry

A curry leaf plant (Murraya koenigii) basks in the afternoon sun.

Jasmine

Buds form on a Jasmine sambac growing against the wall.

Porch Swing

Herbs and miniature roses are suspended from the level above.

Window Box

A large planter, measuring 40" × 20" × 20" (100 cm × 50 cm × 50 cm), is mounted as a window box.

Cedar 4×4’s support the planter from underneath and brace it against the brick wall. These are fastened to the base of the planter using eye bolts, which are held by chain to a grill inside the window. The lip of the planter that rests on the sill is reinforced with heavy-duty PVC pipe. To prevent rust and keep the planter safe for edibles, I used stainless steel hardware.

Here’s a view from below, showing the nuts and fender washers that hold the eye bolts in place. Foylon, a silvery greenhouse fabric, reflects sunlight striking the wall back onto the plants.

Courtyard Wall

Ferns and perennials decorate an often-patched wall in the courtyard below.