Vote for the finalists in each of 17 Considered Design Awards categories, now through August 8, on both Gardenista and Remodelista.

In the Best Edible Garden category, our five finalists are: Britton Shepard; Deirdre Heekin; Kriste Michelini and Esther Arnold; Frances Palmer; and Green Grow. 

Project 1

Britton Shepard | Fall City, WA, USA | Permaculture inspired children's edible garden

Design Statement: Our mini-homestead is situated on an exact 1/2 acre in Fall City, Washington, a small town near Seattle. Here we have a collection of ancestorial fruit trees, a flock of chickens, and four gardeners (two of the large and two of the small varieties). Our edible garden is inspired by permaculture principles and designed to welcome children as foragers and helpers. It is composed of two main areas. First, the annual vegetable garden is composed of a flexible system of semi-raised beds that rotate crops throughout the season. The annual garden is approximately 200 square feet and is enclosed by a reclaimed wood fence. The paths are lined with straw for ease of weeding and to keep small feet clean. It is ringed by cutting flowers for the kids to sell out on the road. The second section of the edible garden has been deemed “berry boulevard” as you can snack your way down the 120-foot bed. The bed is a long and narrow edible perennial border beautiful across seasons and home to birds during the winter. Plantings include berries (raspberries and blueberries above, strawberries below), fruit trees for structure and alliums, rhubarb, elderberry, angelica and herbs of all kinds. Both planting areas are edged with a hand-formed concrete curb to keep the lawn from creeping into the beds. This delineation and structure allows for the garden to feel organized, even as the garden matures into the late summer frenzy of sunflowers and tomatoes.

Chosen By: Guest judge and garden writer Margaret Roach, who liked this project for "Pairing a permaculture ethic with strong aesthetics (love the fence!), while also packing in the produce. Who wouldn’t want to walk down that Berry Boulevard and meet all those happy beneficials?"

Above: Along "berry boulevard" towards the old orchard. Raspberries on the left, edible perennials on the right.

Above: The front gate.

Above: View over the garden towards the tomato house, chicken coop and compost bins in mid-summer.

Above: Inside the garden during mid-summer. The fencing was sourced from a local mill's trash heap. Volunteer plants (like borage in the foreground) are encouraged for beneficial insect attraction.

Above: Along the edible perennial border. Strawberries are mixed with alliums, cat mint and blueberry bushes.

Above: The edible annual garden in early summer. Straw keeps down weeds and promotes wandering.

Project 2

Frances Palmer | Weston, CT, USA | Tennis Court Kitchen Garden

Design Statement: We have transformed an old tennis court on our property into a kitchen garden, taking advantage of the perfect deer fence. We have constructed 26 raised beds and filled them with vegetables, herbs and flowers. We are provided with produce the entire season. I can as well, preserving for the winter.

Chosen By: Margaret Roach: "Talk about adaptive reuse or upcycling! A wasted space now provides food, and an unused fence guards that bounty. Bravo—and bravo for the no-pesticides commitment, too."

Above: The tennis court sits next to my pottery studio. It was originally built in the 1930's. We put new fencing up 20 years ago, but never really used it to play tennis. Three years ago we transformed it into a vegetable, herb and flower garden.

Above: This is a view looking down the center of the garden. As the court has aged, cracks have appeared all over. These have filled with sunflowers, zinnia, amaranth, verbena bonariensis, cosmos, poppies, calendula, nasturtiums and hollyhocks.

Above: We grew butternut squash, kabocha squash and heirloom pumpkins. By late fall the vines draped over the court and the pumpkins loved the heat of the court surface. We made glorious soups and roasted squash for months.

Above: We have had a gorgeous crop of poppies that have seeded in the raspberry and blueberry boxes. I mix many kinds flowers in with the vegetables to have a steady supply of flowers for my vases. The dahlias are just starting to bloom.

Above: Last fall we had a bumper crop of potatoes. Nothing is more delicious than digging your own potatoes and cooking them. We had enough to last through the winter and seed potatoes for this spring.

Above: There are about seven boxes devoted to heirloom tomatoes. Many we start from seed but the rest are from farmers nearby. The garden is organic. I have bees as well, so we are careful and do not use pesticides of any description.

Project 3

Deirdre Heekin | Barnard, VT, USA | La garagista farm + winery

Design Statement: My husband and I have a small poly-culture hillside farm in Vermont where we grow fruits, vegetables, and some livestock for our restaurant, and cider and wine for both the restaurant and farther afield. Our philosophy concerns the integration and the aesthetic form and function of all aspects of our farm: the vineyard, the orchard, the walled garden, the apiary, the rose garden, wilderness, the kitchen and cantina and how they all relate and feed each other, with the goal of creating beautiful, healthy and delicious food and fermentations that focus on purity of taste in a landscape that inspires us every day.

Chosen By: Gardenista editor-in-chief Michelle Slatalla, who said, "If we had our way, every garden would grow wine. La Garagista is that rare mix: a hard-working garden that is so beautifully designed that you forget you're there for anything but your pleasure."

Above: Midsummer daydream.

Above: Lavender in the afternoon garden.

Above: Late summer in the tomato house. 

Above: In the lower walled garden in spring. 

Above: Belladonna blooming on Independence Day. 

Above: Dusk falls in the rose and onion garden.

Project 4

Green Grow | Mora, NM, USA | Green Grow Gardens

Design Statement: We belong to a corner of paradise in the mountains of Northern New Mexico on a 320-acre property teaming with wildlife and medicinal herbs. We are cultivating approximately 3,000 square feet of raised beds and garden space. Our intention is to live in a balanced and sustainable way to restore balance and harmony with the planet.

Chosen By: Margaret Roach, who said: "Kudos for acknowledging and adapting to the realities of a harsh climate with ingenious but earth-friendly (and attractive!) solutions. Loved the polyculture planting approach, too."

Above: This is a view including our raised beds, solar panels, year-round greenhouse, garden shed and utility building, and our home.

Above: This is our tomato hoop house and "hugle" raised beds. We are practicing and learning about permaculture and biodynamic techniques.

Above: Raised beds and protection is necessary at 7,500 feet in the mountains. We experience extreme shifts in temperature at any time in the year.  Hailstorms are also not uncommon.

Above: This is polyculture planting, which includes companions such as chard, cabbage, onions,  celery, beets and carrots.

Above: If you want to find us, we're at the end of the rainbow.

Project 5

Kriste Michelini and Esther Arnold | Alamo, CA, USA | Alamo Garden

Design Statement: This is my personal vegetable garden which was inspired by Andrea Cochran’s gardens and the Getty museum in Los Angeles. Esther Suzuki Arnold and I collaborated on the design of this vegetable garden. I wanted to create a simple vegetable garden with raised vegetable boxes that would act as sculpture and look just as good in the winter months as well as during the summer months with everything in full bloom. The boxes are in varying heights and lengths creating energy between them by being staggered. The trellis creates height as well as functionality for growing vines. The decomposed granite with metal edges outline additional planting spaces to fill with succulents and grasses creating interesting vignettes throughout the space. The outline of this garden is edged with boxwood to create structure and it’s own garden room.

Chosen By: Michelle Slatalla: "By playing with simple design elements—color, height, and scale—Michelini and Arnold have created an utterly original edible garden that is as much a joy to see as to harvest (and we hope to learn where they got the charming love seat)."

Above: A simple garden.

Above: Succulents for ground planting.

Above: Stainless strip detail. 

Above: Varying heights of raised beds. 

Above: Apple espalier with irish moss.

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About two hours southwest of Oslo, a striking pine pavilion rises beside the recently regenerated Skien River. The building's name, Gjennomsikten, means "see-through" because it almost looks transparent from some angles. The designers are part of a small group of young artists and architects called Kollaboratoriet.

Photography by Feileacán McCormick except where noted.

Above: Kollaboratoriet was formed in 2013, but its members already have put their ingenuity to use with this structure, planned to coincide with the 2014 celebration of the Norwegian Constitution's bicentenary. It's meant to be used as a public space for meetings, theater performances, and just hanging out.

Above: When viewed from some directions, the building appears to be a fairly solid mass. But its slotted construction allows for panoramic views up and down the river.

Above: The three Kollaboratoriet members who built the pavilion were inspired by a former industrial wasteland along the Skien River. For many years, the site held a factory used for weatherproofing wood. The factory is gone; in its place is this untreated-wood pavilion in a wilder landscape.

Above: The pavilion, slightly taller than 16 feet, has a viewing platform upstairs. Photograph by Anna Andrea Vic Aniksdal.

Above: Though the year-old building is neither fenced in or locked, locals respect it. In creating this project, Kollaboratoriet aimed to inspire quality civic design in an area that's rapidly being developed.

Above: The pavilion is used mainly in summer, when runners and walkers populate the river path. Photograph by Anna Andrea Vic Aniksdal.

Above: What happens during the dark Scandinavian winters? Kollaboratoriet member Anna Andrea Vik Aniksdal explains: "The pavilion is fixed with light and attracts visitors in this season as well." Photograph by Anna Andrea Vic Aniksdal.

Above: Already a riverbank landmark, the pavilion has been used for this year's bicentenary celebrations. "We built it as part of the transformation of the area," says Anna.

Above: An actor from PS1, an ambitious theater project involving hundreds of people in all fields of the arts. The performers have been traveling by foot and by boat along the river this year. "Gjennomsikten is more than a public pavilion," says Anna. "It works just as well as a set design."

For another Norwegian wooden room with a view, see Outbuilding of the Week: A Norwegian "Love Shack."

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Last weekend there were strawberries, asparagus, and sunflowers at the farmer's market. While I stuffed my goodies unceremoniously into a backpack, I couldn't help but wish I had a beautiful straw market tote like the ones my friends in Paris always carry. If you've got similar yearnings, here's a roundup of 10 French market totes, perfect for carting home bundles of fresh flowers and wedges of stinky cheese.

Above: This classic Hand Woven Palm Carryall is available with leather handles in two lengths, $59.95 at Kaufmann Mercantile.

Above: A Leather-Handled Market Tote has bright orange handles; available for $39 from Greige.

Above: With rolled-top handles, a raffia French Market Tote is $38 from Barney's.

Above: For a more daring pop of color, here's a Shopping Basket with green handles (pink, orange, and blue are also available); £42 from French Baskets in Morocco.

Above: This French Market Basket with Two Handles can be carried in one hand or over your shoulder; available for $50 from Olive and Branch.

Above: This classic Basket Tote has narrower handles than some of the others; available for $34 from Greige.

Above: If you like the the look but not the heft of a French market tote, you might prefer this Small French Market Basket; $32.50 from Olive and Branch.

Above: The Agadir French Market Basket is woven with Moroccan materials in France, and has a cotton lining with a drawstring; $60.99 from Petite Provence.

Above: The La Vie Frances Tote is a smaller version of the classic tote, with leather trim and a buckled strap to keep things put; available for $52 from Abes Market. 

Above: The La Vie Large Tote has a larger base than the traditional size, and is also trimmed in leather; $64 from Abes Market.

Is canvas more your style? See 10 Easy Pieces: Canvas Totes. And if you're looking for the perfect tote to use in the garden, see A Tote Worthy Garden Bag.

Updated from a post originally published June 4, 2013.

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Our judges have chosen the finalists; now you choose the winners. Vote for the finalists in each of 17 Considered Design Awards categories, on both Gardenista and Remodelista. You can vote once a day in each category, now through August 8.

In the Best Overall Garden/Amateur category, our five finalists are Jane C., Sarah Neidhardt, Jane Handel, Molly Boxer, and Diani Living.

Project 1

Jane C. | Waban, MA, USA | A Garden Tour

Design Statement: A garden that's evolved over 15 years from a small, mail-order shade garden to encompassing every inch of soil around our house.

Chosen By: Gardenista editor-in-chief Michelle Slatalla, who had this to say: "Give me a minute to settle into that bench and compose my thoughts. No, give me an hour. This is a garden that begs you to relax and enjoy its play of texture and light. With a good book, I'll be asleep on that bench in under five minutes."

Above: A bench in our front garden. The Sweetspire is in full bloom on the left, and one Allium is holding on to the right.

Above: From the front garden, the grasses and the Japanese Maple create a natural gateway and screen to the back garden.

Above: The shade garden. I added a planter this year to brighten up a dark corner. 

Above: Arborvitae create a 30-foot high backdrop for an evolving mix of shrubs and perennials.

Above: Japanese Hollies form natural walls for the patio seating area.

Above: A close-up of the planter with a Begonia and Creeping Jenny.

Project 2

Sarah Neidhardt | Portland, OR, USA | Relaxed Portland Garden

Design Statement: When I moved from California to Portland, I wanted to retain the indoor/outdoor vibe I was used to and take advantage of the wet winter and spring and the hot, dry Mediterranean Portland summers. I wanted lushness, texture, and scent (herbal and floral). My resulting garden is a blend of English cottage, Mediterranean, and California Bohemian.

Chosen By: Guest judge Rita Konig, European editor of T Magazine. "I really like the yellow garage doors, which I know aren't strictly gardening but I think they are great fun. I love the way they have done their beds, both the raised bed and the side beds with the found branches."

Above: Front of house planted with Parrotia persica, Azara microphylla, Spanish lavenders, English and French lavenders, ericas, daboecias, and calluna vulgaris, succulents, native arctostaphylos, etc.

Above: Detail of front garden planting beds bordered with found tree limbs and tomato plants in a raised wooden bed.

Above: Fence and gate along the side of the house leading to our back garden, with a plume poppy (which has not proved invasive in my yard) peeking out and the gate arch covered in climbing rose Cecile Brunner.

Above: Detached garage (front part is a tool shed, and back part my husband's office) with potted plants on the driveway side of house. 

Above: Detail of front garden sculpture on a wooden stump pedestal and blueberries in terracotta planter, with a background of grasses, creeping white thyme, white potentilla, amsonia, and a bits of the branches of a small Salix eleagnos.

Project 3

Jane Handel | Ojai, CA, USA | Jane Handel's Front Garden in Ojai

Design Statement: A drought-tolerant garden on a minimal budget that complements the quasi-mid-century linearity of the house.

Chosen By: Rita Konig, who says: "I love how different it is and how she has done something that really suits the climate she is in and on a budget and it really looks great. The colours are so pretty, the planting is inventive and unusual. I love the table of pots and the way the plantings sit with the house. I am really not a fan of succulents at all so I was pleased to have my head turned by this garden of cacti."

Above: Aloes in bloom/summer.

Above: California Potter collection on the porch.

Above: Aloes in bloom/spring.

Above: Steps to porch.

Above: Aloe and Agave parryi.

Project 4

Molly Boxer | Richmond, MA, USA | Molly's Folly

Design Statement: My garden is filled with texture and shape, curved paths and areas for sitting, as well as plants, objects and often people that I love. A gardener's garden, it is not about perfection but process. It has evolved over the past 31 years and is becoming simpler and cleaner as my needs and tastes change.

Chosen By: Michelle Slatalla. "In many ways this is a modern descendant of Vita Sackville-West's original white garden. The snowy punctation of color—it's really nothing more than the reflection of light, a reminder of how green everything else is. Also, I'm a sucker for astilbe, those straight-backed soldiers that march on bravely in the heat." 

Above: The tree lilac behind the pool hedge is in full glory.

Above: Copper bird bath surrounded by hosta, rogersia, goat's beard and korean wax bells. 

Above: White astilbe and ligularia edge a shady bed.

Above: Pool house in the mist at the end of a row of persicaria, just beyond the raised vegetable bed.

Above: Harry Lauder's walking stick abuts a non-vining clematis above geranium alba and autumn bride heuchera.

Project 5 

Caroline Diani | Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Canyon Garden

Design Statement: Living in a canyon, we wanted to have our garden fit in with the surroundings, so we used a lot of the plants and shades of greens that are around us. We wanted it to all flow with our insane view. There are areas like our vegetable garden, fountain, pool and seating area that are all distinct yet complementary of each other.

Chosen By: Rita Konig, who says: "I really like every image. I love the way they have done their beds, the pale gray gravel paths. I am also a huge fan of palms so I loved the palms and weeping bamboo; their images are generally really luscious, which I loved. Lastly the vegetable garden is lovely and that it is made by them is even better; I thought that was great."

Above: Mexican weeping bamboo and loosely trimmed boxwood gently frame the perimeter of the garden.

Above: We painted these terracotta pots to jazz up the garage wall and filled them with succulents.

Above: The vegetable and herb garden that my husband built. The framing was inspired by a henna garden we saw in Morocco with a similar bamboo gazebo built over it for shade.

Above: Palms and weeping bamboo planted for their different textures and shades of green.

Above: A water feature surrounded by rosemary and daisies in the pea gravel courtyard.

Above: Shells collected on a recent trip to the West Indies and laid next to the meditation area by the pool, to remind us to breathe and take our vacation with us every day. 

Start voting now—and vote daily through August 8 on both Gardenista and Remodelista. Winners will be announced on August 9.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Vote for the Best Edible Garden in the Gardenista Considered Design Awards
• 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from France
• Gardenista Roundup: For Love of Boxwood

The Remodelista team have been treating us to a week of Gallic design, including French-inspired spaces whose good looks you'll definitely want to steal. Plus: The ins and outs of French doors and a toast to the iconic Duralex bistro glass. 

Above: French clients living in the Netherlands asked designer Remy Meijers to bring their grand dwelling into the clean-lined 21st century. Read how he created this elegant space in History and Modern Glam in The Hague.

Above: A group of Parisians just finished transforming an 18th-century estate outside Florence into a center for visiting artists. Luckily, travelers (like you!) can stay there, too. Find out more at Villa Lena: A New Creative Hub (and Hotel) in Tuscany.

Above: It turns out that ingredients for homemade light fixtures are lurking in your kitchen cupboard. Check out Margot's DIY at 8 Kitchen Utensils as Light Fixtures. We throw in the light pattern for free.

Above: French doors are a prime way to expand your warm-weather living space. Janet tells all in her Remodeling 101: The Ins and Outs of French Doors (nice!).

Above: Perfect for summer produce, the market tote's compact sibling is making a comeback. See more examples in 10 Parisian-Style Net Bags.

Above: How do the Remodelista editors keep finding these houseboats? This one's a converted Dutch barge, home to a Paris architect and her young daughter. In New Paris Style: A Mother and Daughter Afloat, Margot calls it "floating chic." Très bien.

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• Current Obsessions: Urban Greenery
• Vote for the Finalists in the 2014 Considered Design Awards
• Table of Contents: Bastille Day

Here's a look at what's piquing our interest lately. 

• Above: Jane clued us in to Flower Muse's new two-toned infatuation.
• Netflix has nothing on Nowness. We're watching (on repeat) the first weekly episode of Great Gardens. 

• Above: A gorgeous floral workshop in Minnesota; photograph courtesy of Wit & Delight. 
• We're fed up; say goodbye to sugar. 

• Above: A new generation of wall gardens; photograph courtesy of Design Milk. 
• This marionberry jam would go perfectly with a tear of crusty French bread and a glass of chilled rosé.

• The ultimate urban escape: We're dreaming of this spartan Italian villa by the sea; photograph courtesy of Kinfolk.
• It's time to vote, starting now, and every day through August 8. 

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• Trending on Remodelista: Bastille Day
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At the age of 69, Nicole de Vésian's real adventure started. Retired from a career of designing hats and linens for Hermès, she decamped to Provence to embark on her most ambitious design project: a strange and hauntingly beautiful garden that incites in anyone who sees it a sudden desire to prune shrubs into pillowy, languorous clouds.

Above: A mix of textures and the play of light on carefully shaped shrubbery create a peaceful, meditative space in de Vésian's garden, La Louve (translation: "The She Wolf"). Rather than confining boxwood to a more conventional supporting role as a hedge or as edging for flower beds, she encouraged it to become the central focus. Photograph via Louisa Jones.

Above: De Vésian moved to the Provençal hill village of Bonnieux in 1986, after the death of her husband. When she bought her house, the garden was dilapidated, built on a series of terraces against a hillside. Photograph via Garden Design.

Above: On the upper terrace, natural elements such as stone, gravel, and wood provide a backdrop for the topiaries. Photograph via La Dolce Vita California. 

Above: The swimming pool was added after de Vésian sold the property to art dealer Judith Pillsbury. Photograph via Garden Design.

Above: De Vésian designed benches that would take advantage of the hillside views. Photograph by Mustafa Birgi via Flickr. 

Above: For years, gardeners have made pilgrimages to this region, the Luberon, to see de Vésian's garden. Maria Nation is one person who returned home from France determined to rip out her perennial beds and replace them with boxwood. "Her private garden was like some cosmic thunderbolt," Nation says. 'It took my breath away." Nation's western Massachusetts garden was entirely inspired by La Louve; to read about it, see A Secret Garden: Beauty in the Berkshires. Photograph via Garden Design.

Above: The shrubs are as well trimmed as they were in de Vésian's day. Photograph via Garden Design.

Interested in learning more about the technique of cloud pruning? See Topiary: Cloud Pruning as Arboreal Art. And for more boxwood inspiration, go to For Love of Boxwood.

Updated from a post originally published June 7, 2013.

More Stories from Gardenista

• Vote for the Best Amateur Garden in the Gardenista Considered Design Awards
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We're of the opinion that the best time to be in the city is when everyone else has decamped. Rooftop sunsets, twinkly balcony lights, the first ripe container tomatoes—you're ours this week. Hop on the subway and join us on our urban escape:

Monday

Above: Sophia visits a rooftop garden in Brooklyn's Cobble Hill and brings back tips for creating a meadow of flowers in the city in this week's Garden Designer Visit.

Tuesday

Above: Pallet magic: We'll show you how easy it is to create a trellis, screen, or temporary wall for your city terrace in this week's Steal This Look. Photograph via Uline.

Wednesday

Above: Sarah discovers the magic cure for keeping flies away in this week's report from the front lines of Domestic Science.

Thursday

Above: Intrigued by shou sugi ban siding, Margot investigates the burnt-wood facade in this week's Hardscaping 101. Photograph via Materialicious.

Friday

Above: Sleuthing in Tuscany, Kendra discovered an open-air pavilion that floats on the edge of a hillside. She's excited to give us a full tour of our Outbuilding of the Week. Photograph by Clive Nichols.

And on Remodelista, the editors are just as determined to enjoy summer in the city. Follow their adventures this week as they make their own Urban Escape.

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When she was renovating her townhouse apartment in Cobble Hill, garden designer Julie Farris also wanted a roof garden that could play a big role in her family's life. Farris, the founder of XS Space (and a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory), had big plans: for barbecues, a play area, flowerbeds, and lounge furniture. Oh, and it all had to be low-maintenance.

Farris was impressed by New York City's High Line, the park where landscape designer Piet Oudolf's perennial beds have brought drifts of color and romance to the city. So she took a similar approach for her smaller garden. After consulting with Julia Miller of Four Gardens and Jessie LeBaron of GARDEN, she selected drought- and wind-tolerant perennials that could endure summer heat and freezing winter temperatures.

In the end, Farris got the "beachy feel" she wanted, in Brooklyn. The other day she invited us over to take a look:

Photography by Sophia Moreno-Bunge for Gardenista.

Above: When you walk out onto Julie Farris's roof, you find yourself in a meadow edged by ipe wood ties. The expanse of grasses and flowers is layered directly onto the membrane of the roof. To improve drainage and reduce the weight, Farris added a 2-inch layer of styrofoam to the 14-inch-deep bed of soil. A J-Drain water drainage mat sits between the insulation and the filter fabric. "It all seems to work—the plants are thriving here," says Farris. 

Above: Beside the door to the garden is a barbecue and a dining and lounging area.

Above: The plant palette makes the garden feel airy and relaxed. A drift of hardy perennials includes (from L) Nepeta, peach-colored Agastache, and Nasella and Calamagrostis grasses. Farris's goal was for the garden to feel naturalistic and wild. The plants are allowed to do their own thing and are expected to return year after year.

Above: The view from the entrance. The meadow serves as a divider between the lawn and the dining area. Julie chose artificial turf for a number of reasons: It doesn't require watering or mowing, and there's no need to replace grass damaged by heat or sun. 

Above: To create ground cover and a nice textural combination, Farris paired fiber-optic grass with strawberries, which her kids were surprised to find "taste better than strawberries."  

Above: The dining and lounge area. When planning a roof garden, Farris says, get an engineer to make sure the roof can withstand the weight load. It may seem obvious, but the soil alone is heavy. And of top of that you'll be adding furniture, decking, a grill, people, and snow and ice, depending on your climate. 

Above: A very Brooklyn view. Buildings, breezes—and no mosquitoes up here.

Above: Farris designed storage space for glasses and dishes in the barbecue area to make the garden easy to use. (There's also a refrigerator.) 

Above: Planters filled with lavender, grasses, and roses line the perimeter. Farris waters the garden for five minutes every morning and evening. 

Above: Building a roof garden requires logistics. "We used a cherry picker to hoist the soil bags and wood up the side of the house," says Farris. "That saved a huge amount of time and labor." The general contractor, Showcase Construction, brought all the soil to the roof.

Proper drainage is very important on a roof garden, particularly in Brooklyn, where you need to protect both your own building and that of your neighbors. "In this project the entire roof pitches to a downspout that flows into an underground pipe," says Farris. "You have to install a filter that will keep the pipes clear of debris and let the water flow out and down." 

Above: In the middle of the meadow, a skylight brings a little bit of the garden indoors. The hardy perennials include Calamagrostis, Monarda, Knautia, Nepeta, Yarrow, Salvia, Lavender, and Miscanthus.

Above: Scabiosa (L) and climbing hydrangea.

To see another of our favorite urban meadows, go to A Rooftop Garden for All Seasons in Rotterdam. For a primer on living roofs, see Hardscaping 101: Green Roofs. 

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• Garden Visit: A Parisian Stylist in Provence
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• Vote for the Best Edible Garden in the Gardenista Considered Design Awards

Our judges have selected the finalists, now you choose the winners. Vote for the finalists in each of 17 Considered Design Awards categories, on both Gardenista and Remodelista. You can vote once a day in each category, now through August 8.

In the Best Garden Shed or Outbuilding category—open only to professionals—our five finalists are Kantelberg + Co, Red Bark Design, Rees Roberts and Partners, Maggie Anthony Designs, and Sweeds Fabrication.

Project 1

Kantelberg + Co | Mulmur Township, Ontario, Canada | Mulmur Outdoor Lounge

Design Statement: To create a three-season entertainment room in the Canadian countryside. Must be screened to protect from bugs and roofed to protect from the elements. Loungy open-air seating with cooking facilities, fireplace, and storage.

Chosen By: Guest judge and America's handyman Bob Vila, who said: "The use of oversized timbers is well done, and the summer beam is a nice touch. I find the overall palette of natural colors very pleasing."

Above: Screened window vignette.

Above: Outdoor lounge wide shot.

Above: Fireplace frontal view.

Above: Raised outdoor fireplace vignette.

Above: Real wood and faux wood bucket.  

Project 2

Red Bark Design, LLC | Tucson, AZ | Menlo Park Residence

Design Statement: This historic home rests among an eclectic mix of architectural styles along the Santa Cruz River in Tucson, Arizona. A recent commercial development included an 8-foot-high perimeter wall on the adjacent parcel. It replaced a native mesquite bosque, which altered the art-filled naturalistic space into something that felt more like jail than a residential backyard. As a result, the backyard was remodeled to mediate the less-than-friendly atmosphere and included an outdoor kitchen area, new ramada, edible gardening space, location for a future guest house, and native vegetation. Materials such as steel, concrete, and decomposed granite were used for their tolerance to the harsh desert sun. An existing wooden ramada was replaced by a larger ramada made of steel and a corrugated metal roof—complete with a cocktail rail for beverages and a work of contemporary art for roof runoff. The modern steel rain chain and custom gutter collects water, and directs flow to adjacent native plantings.

Chosen By: Gardenista editor-in-chief Michelle Slatalla: "In a harsh climate, it can be difficult to figure out how to extend your daily life beyond the limits of your air conditioning. This covered outdoor dining area invites breezes, blocks the sun, and is sturdy enough to stand up to the elements. It's a clever way to introduce the concept of indoor-outdoor living to the desert."

Above: Ramada with trellis in the background.

Above: Cocktail rail. 

Above: Roof detail.

Above: Contemporary functional art—rain chain—and drainage.

Above: Custom gutter/rain chain.

Above: White marble rain chain detail.

Project 3

Rees Roberts and Partners | Hudson, NY | Entertaining Barn

Design Statement: This project involved the adaptive reuse of a barn that sits on a 100-acre former working farm in Hudson, NY. The objective was to create a living and entertaining space while leaving the existing structure aesthetically intact. The barn is an L-shaped structure; one wing was a hayloft and granary, while the other wing was a dairy stable. The hay barn, which was made into a space for entertaining, was kept uninsulated, and many of the found details, such as the gaps in the cladding, were kept. When in use, the barn emits a lantern-like glow in the blue light of Hudson Valley evenings, a beckoning effect that is acutely appropriate for a reception space. The timber structure was restored where necessary, and a gently sloping stone ramp, reminiscent of the earth and masonry ramps traditionally used in hay barns, was added at the entrance. The exterior cladding of the dairy barn was kept intact, though insulation and conditioning were added within the exterior shell to create a livable space. This wing now houses a screening room, bedroom, bath, and garage. The overall result is a compound that adheres closely to American farm vernacular and manages to enhance, not replace, the ambience of the original structure and landscape.

Chosen By: Bob Vila: "While it's a very big project and must have had a very big budget, it remains respectful of the original building and celebrates the barn timbers while creating modern interior spaces."

Above: The barn sits adjacent to the farmhouse and provides additional sleeping and living quarters for guests.

Above: An earth and stone ramp, appropriate to the vernacular of hay barns, gently slopes to the entrance.

Above: The asymmetrical fenestration is both appropriate to the original vernacular and intriguingly abstract.

Above: Sliding panels reveal an opening that was originally the hay loft.

Above: The guest wing at twilight.

Above: At night, the barn takes on a jewel-box quality on the vast landscape.

Project 4

Maggie Anthony Designs | Nashville, TN | The Shelter

Design Statement: “The Shelter"—clad with locally harvested Eastern Red Cedar—serves as studio office space for the homeowner, offering a peaceful place for creative and therapeutic work. The north end houses the garden shed, and the metal roof serves as a rain catchment system to water nearby vegetable beds. The south wall features exterior art (commercial HVAC panels and vintage auto insignias and a truck door) among naturalized yucca and ornamental grasses.

Chosen By: Michelle Slatalla: "What a nice commute to the office—walk a few steps through the garden, past the lettuces, listening to the sound of gravel crunch underfoot. Both the setting and the studio's womblike size make it feel like a refuge."

Above: Veggie "bedroom."

Above: The Shelter in situ.

Above: Vintage auto insignia art on HVAC panels.

Above: Entry bed—junipers and Hinoki cypress.

Above: Desk and library with centered view.

Above: Bird's-eye view.

Project 5

Sweeds Fabrication | Tucson, AZ | Dunbar Spring Residence

Design Statement: The Ramada Deck was designed to replace a dilapidated structure in a historic neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona. The clients wanted an expansion of their home through an outdoor room, shade, and an observation deck. The result offers spectacular views of the western mountains, year-round sunsets, and stargazing, not to mention the perfect gathering space for a pool party. The Ramada Deck is 10 feet tall and constructed primarily of steel with wood accents to withstand the year-round blazing desert sun. A trellis (soon to be planted with a vine) runs along the west edge for screening and provides additional shade. A cocktail rail runs along the east edge to hold cold beverages—of course. The upper deck is constructed to support rooftop gatherings. A removable custom ladder with oak treads leads upwards, where collapsible handrails engage for safety. When the roof deck is not in use, the rails fold in and the ladder is removed to prevent the littlest owners from playing rooftop hide-and-seek.

Chosen By: Bob Vila: "It isn't fussy. There's nothing unnecessary. The materials alone—and the way they were treated—are eye candy enough in this modern, functional structure."

Above: Ramada/deck with ladder. 

Above: Custom oak-and-steel ladder. 

Above: Cocktail rail.

Above: Collapsible railings.

Above: West trellis/screen.

Above: Latch detail.

Start voting—and vote daily, now through August 8, on both Gardenista and Remodelista. Winners will be announced on August 9.

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Cilantro, Coriandrum sativum: "Pharaoh's Friend"

Cilantro makes another winning argument for home-grown vegetables. This leafy herb, a cross-cultural superstar, fits in a pot on your windowsill, brightens up almost any savory dish, and smells wonderful while growing.

The herb has been popular for centuries, earning mentions in Sanskrit texts and in the Bible. Ancient Egyptians buried their dead with cilantro. And nowadays, health scientists concur that cilantro could help stave off the afterlife. The herb packs in the vitamins—A, K, and C—and also acts as a heavy metal detoxifier.

Above: For a refreshing summer lunch, try 101 Cookbooks' Cilantro Salad. Photograph by Heidi Swanson.

Cilantro has the best flavor and vigor when it's fresh. The plants bring beneficial insects to your garden, especially when grown with mint, basil, and parsley. Although it bolts in the heat, multiple successions take care of that. There's also a benefit to the bolt—coriander spice comes from the dried and ground seed heads. 

Above: That's cilantro on the left in Erin's window box.

Cheat Sheet

• Bright green, lacy foliage and small white flowers make cilantro a good companion at the edge of a flower bed. 
• Combine with other small-flowering, pungent herbs to bring beneficial insects. 
• Delicious in stir-fries, sauces, and dips in cuisines ranging from Indian to Mexican to Brazilian. 

Keep It Alive

• An edible biennial, cilantro is hardy in all zones, in full sun or partial shade.
• Plant outdoors in cool seasons (spring or fall) or keep a pot indoors (it will tolerate a shady windowsill). 
• Snip leaves on a weekly basis to keep the plant from getting leggy.

Above: Another favorite summer recipe: Gin and Tonic with Cilantro. Photograph by Erin Boyle.

In one study, researchers demonstrated that a handful of cilantro could clear a jug of contaminated water of almost all its lead content. Use it freely to reap the maximum health benefits: Add it to guacamole, juice it into a smoothie, layer it into black beans. 

Above: Starting cilantro seeds indoors? See Gardening 101: How to Sprout a Seed. Photograph by John Merkl for Gardenista.

To get the most from your cilantro plants, choose a slow-bolting variety and provide adequate moisture during germination. Plant in rich soil; cilantro demands little else. If you want, let some go to seed, then hang the heads upside down in a paper bag so you can harvest the orange-peel scented seeds and grind them to make coriander. 

Read More

Above: Read about more of our favorite Plants & Seeds in our archives. If you're planning an herb garden, check out our Field Guide posts on Chives, Rosemary, and Tulsi Basil.

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"It's kind of a little postage stamp, but coming from New York I think this feels gigantic and amazing," clothing designer Courtney Klein says of the backyard garden in San Francisco that she and her husband created from scratch last year.

When Courtney and Zach moved to the Mission District, the so-called garden consisted of a ratty backyard with a half-dead rosebush growing against the fence—and a bug problem. "It was hopping with fleas," she says.

The fashion designer was in the process of launching a new business (her Storq collection of maternity clothing), but when her husband suggested they also launch a garden revival, she signed on eagerly. "He said, 'Let's turn this backyard around.' " And they did.

We caught up with them (and their now thriving edible garden) via Ann Street Studio, whose Jamie Beck recently spent a day photographing Courtney at home:

Photographs by Jamie Beck.

Above: Klein's landlord painted the fence (and house) a soothing chalkboard gray, the perfect foil for the green vines that grow on it. For more information about the paint color, see Steal This Look: Courtney Klein's Edible Garden.

Courtney's Storq maternity collection turned out to be of personal as well as professional interest to her. "I became pregnant myself, so it was kind of funny timing," she said. "I got the idea because I have a lot of friends and family who are having kids, and one thing that kept coming up was maternity fashion. More children are being born to women over 30 who are established in their careers, but maternity fashion hasn't adjusted."

Storq offers a bundled collection of four essential pieces of clothing. "The bundle becomes your pregnancy base layer uniform," Courtney said. "You can pair stuff you already own on top of it."

 

Above: "My husband built all the garden boxes. I'm his assistant," said Courtney. "Being able to garden has been one of the biggest joys about moving here. Neither of us ever had a garden before."

Above: The garden's cold frames are built of 10-foot-long redwood planks, and have brass hinges and handles. Instead of using panes of glass, the couple went to a plastic supply shop; the panes are lightweight and virtually unbreakable.

Above: Last winter's edible garden included chard, kale, cabbages, and several varieties of lettuce: Tom Thumb, Little Gem romaine, and Grandpa Admire's. "We went to the Petaluma Seed Bank for our seeds," she said.

For more about the 1,200 varieties of rare seeds that are for sale in a renovated bank building in Petaluma, see A Bank for Rare Seeds in Petaluma.

"We are total newbies and just experimenting with the garden. We've had some really weird successes and some weird failures," said Courtney. "For some reason when we tried to grow broccoli, it was a total disaster. Every bug in San Francisco lived in that broccoli. We ended up having to take it out because it was creating chaos. But our radicchio grew to the point where we were trying to give it away to everyone we know because we just couldn't eat it all."

Above: A concrete outdoor table and wooden benches—which Courtney and her husband stained—were ordered from Amazon. "We're big Amazon Prime users," says Courtney. "For our wedding, we Amazon Primed heat lamps."

To find out how to buy that concrete table, see Steal This Look: Courtney Klein's Edible Garden.

Above: Salvia (R) and a butterfly bush attract hummingbirds. "It's funny, because we have this hummingbird feeder. I'm devoted to the thing, but the hummingbirds all head to the butterfly bush, and I'm like, 'Come on, there's a whole thing waiting for you here,' " Courtney said. "I'm just going to keep filling the feeder and some day they're going to like it."

Above: "We realized that if we just let the herbs do their thing, they suddenly start sprouting," said Courtney. "When I was trying to take control and trimming them all the time, it was a mistake. They were too manicured. I think I over-loved them."

Above: The raised bed was built by Zach in western red cedar. The potted plants came from the San Francisco Flower Mart or Flowercraft Garden Center. "And a couple of things are from Flora Grubb—you can't live in San Francisco and not go there," said Courtney.

For more Bay Area gardens, see An Urban Surf Shack in San Francisco and Steal This Look: Water Troughs as Raised Garden Beds.

Updated from a post published January 22, 2014.

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From Antwerp design company Xala, Goldilocks-style household essentials: watering cans that are extra large and extra-small, and a bucket that's just right. They're made of non-toxic HDPE, high-density polyethylene plastic. True, we generally avoid plastic, but in this context, it's undeniably practical: lightweight, well detailed, and designed to last, cottage in the woods not required.

Above: Xala specializes in basics for the house and garden that are manufactured in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Lungo Watering Can, designed by Davy Groseman, takes its shape from old-fashioned coffee pots. Designer Sylvain Willenz conceived the "archetypal bucket—elegant and well proportioned."  

Above: The Lungo Watering Can holds 12 liters and comes in five colors: navy, pale green, pink, yellow, and white. It's available from Neo-Utility for $35.

Above: The Drop Bucket is available in navy, yellow, pale green, and red, and has contrasting metal handles; $25 each from Neo-Utility.

Above: The Drop Bucket has a 13-liter capacity. A subtle exterior "evaporating bubble" pattern makes it easy to grip.

Above: Sized for small plants and indoor use, the Bowli Watering Can holds 2.5 liters of water.

For household basics, peruse our Domestic Science posts. We also have lots more Watering Cans. 
Over on Remodelista, check out 10 Best Old-World Household Essentials. 

Originally published on Remodelista June 30, 2014.

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We spotted this clever and stylish instant herb garden wall via Bambula. Doesn't green look fabulous against a black and white backdrop? All it takes to recreate the look is some white paint, a few black accessories, and herbs. Here's how:

Above: A fence panel, a sturdy trellis, or even a recycled pallet will work fine as an anchor for wooden planter boxes filled with herbs. Photograph via Bambula.

Above: Strips of black nylon webbing are threaded through the panels and cinched with plastic buckles to hold the planter boxes flush. Photograph via Bambula.

Above: Start with simple wooden boxes. You can use any length or configuration that fits your wall, as long as the planters are deep enough to allow the herbs' roots to spread. A 48-inch-long unpainted Natural Cedar Window Box is $65 from Jamali Garden. For other sizes, see 10 Easy Pieces: Wooden Window Boxes. Photograph via Bambula.

Above: If you don't have a horizontal slat wood fence, you can make your own version. Start with unfinished wood pallets. You can recycle used pallets or buy a New Wood Pallet; available in four sizes at prices ranging from $17.25 to $49.50 apiece at Uline.

Above: Sand and paint the pallets and planter boxes; a can of Glossy White Krylon Spray Paint dries quickly enough to be handled within an hour and is $7.49 from Dick Blick. Photograph via Pallet Furniture.

Above: You can buy a 10-yard roll of inch-wide Black Nylon Heavy Webbing for $11.95 from Amazon. It's strong enough to support the weight of the planter boxes. Photograph by Whimseydogs via Etsy.

Above: To cinch the boxes tightly, a package of 25 1-inch Duraflex Stealth Plastic Buckles is $12.29 from Amazon. 

Above: An 18-inch-tall Rosemary Standard Topiary tree in a pot will look dramatic against the white horizontal slats of the backdrop. It is $49 from Fresh Topiary.

Above: Fill the planters with herbs. A six-plant Fragrant Herb Collection, which includes scented geranium, lemon verbena, spearmint, pineapple sage, lavender, and Tuscan blue rosemary, is $28.95 from Williams-Sonoma.

Above: A polypropylene White Skarpö Armchair with a drain hole is $59.99 from Ikea.

Above: For an elegantly elongated coffee thermos, the Grand Cru Anniversary Thermos Jug by Rosendahl Copenhagen is $125 from Scandinavian Design Center. 

Above: A black and white striped Tasaraita Mug is $20 from Marimekko.

Do you love a black and white and green color scheme in the garden as much as we do? For more ideas, see another of our favorites: Steal This Look: Black and White Indoor/Outdoor Terrace.

Updated from a post originally published July 17, 2013.

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Martin Reinicke's Blomsterskuret (meaning "flower shed" in Danish) is overflowing with starter plants, topiaries, and fresh-cut flowers. Reinicke, a floral designer and potter, began Blomsterskuret shortly after establishing his workshop-in-shop, Krukkeriet, where he sells his earthenware planters. He built the flower shop in a small black shed that's lit outside by rustic gooseneck fixtures. Both Krukkeriet and Blomsterskuret are on Værndamsvej, a street that dissects Copenhagen from Frederiksberg, in the popular Vesterbro district. For more information, visit Blomsterskuret.

Above: Reinicke arranges potted plants in the shop window.

Above: Pale lavender stands out against the shop's black exterior. On the wall: allium blossoms drawn with chalkboard paint.

Above: The shop's address is Værndedamsvej 3 A, 1819 in Frederiksberg.

Above: A rustic flower-shop essential: Chalkboard signs that display daily offerings.

Above: One of Reinicke's planters holds stalks of dried eucalyptus pods.

Above: Reinicke creates driftwood wreaths to sell in the shop. (Read about similar wreaths designed by Kinfolk magazine editor Nathan Kinfolk in Framed and Foraged: DIY Wall Hangings.)

Above: Inside, the shop windows are painted a pastel blue.

Above: A Scandinavian-style wreath, one of Reinicke's custom arrangements, made with sphagnum moss and green tapers.

Above: A still life scene in the shop.

Above: Blomsterkuret is located at Værndedamsvej 3 A, Frederiksberg, Denmark.

Visiting Copenhagen? Find out what not to miss by reading Remodelista's Copenhagen City Guide. And make a side trip to see A Fairy Tale Garden in Denmark. If you're inspired by Scandinavian style, get the details at 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Scandinavia.

Updated from a post originally published February 13, 2013.

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Some people make it look so easy. On late summer afternoons, blogger Christine Chitnis heads to her community garden plot to tend her vegetables—toddler in tow. "This part of my day is so idyllic," she says. "Vik is such an easygoing soul, he's happy to eat some dirt and hang out while I fuss with my plot." Here are her secrets to creating a kid-friendly garden:

Photographs by Christine Chitnis.

Tip No. 1: Let go of your expectations. Kids want to "help," and that means plants will get uprooted, herbs over-watered, produce picked before its time, and pots knocked over, says Chitnis. All of which is a good thing. "By letting kids help, and giving them the space to get messy and make mistakes, you will nurture their love of gardening," she says.

Tip No. 2:  Plant vegetables and fruit that your kids like—and some they don't. "Planting produce that your kids love is a no-brainer. But try planting a few things they claim not to like," Chitnis says. "Once they help it grow, and pick it straight from the vine, they may change their minds."

Above: "My older son claimed that he didn't like tomatoes," she says. "But when I let him pick some sweet cherry tomatoes right from the vine, he decided they were his favorite." 

Tip No: 3: Set yourself up for success by laying the groundwork, so to speak. Growing vegetables in raised beds "is the best idea, in my humble opinion—the soil is so rich and the weeds so few," she says. 

Above: "My garden certainly doesn't look perfect, but it's a place where my boys are welcome and encouraged to get their hands dirty," says Chitnis. 

 Tip No. 4: Keep a journal, recording successes (and failures) that your kids can page through with you during the winter months. It will also remind you what you want to plant, come next year.

Tip No. 5: Make it a family affair. "We all help in the garden and with the chickens," says Chitnis. "Kids love chores that involve shovels, rakes, and other tools, not to mention hoses and watering cans." 

Above: "And then comes the most laughable part of our urban gardening experience—chicken wrangling," says Chitnis. "Our four 'girls' don't seem to understand the concept of coming back to their coop once night falls. And so we head out into the backyard to chase them down. It's always comical, with one of us wielding a rake, Vijay making matters worse by scaring them away, and my husband cursing lightly under his breath as he crawls through the bushes." 

Chitnis wonders if any experienced backyard chicken farmers can offer advice on corralling the flock: "We'd appreciate some tips."

Tip No. 6: Stake your peas as soon as they start to sprout. Otherwise? They'll turn into "a tangled disaster,"  says Chitnis.

 Above: Of course . . . "We're still getting a lot of peas," says Chitnis.

Above: "We load our basket full of kale, spinach, lettuce, and peas," says Chitnis, "and make our way home to start dinner."

Is your gardener's trowel too big for little hands to handle? See 5 Favorites: Kids' Garden Tools from Burgon & Ball. And check out For Kids Only: A Hidden Garden in Brooklyn.

Updated from a post originally published July 11, 2013. 

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An old-fashioned summer staple in the Napa Valley, where I live, is a plastic bag filled with water and hung from the backdoor of a farmhouse. It took me a while to realize that this not-so-glamorous device is an effective way to keep flies and other summer insects at bay (alas, mosquitoes are not deterred).

Leave it to the chaps at Kaufmann Mercantile to source a good-looking equivalent: the Anti-Fly Glass Sphere by Mexico City-based designer José de la O of Studio José de la O. Now there's no excuse not to give it a go.   

Above: It's the refraction of light against the water that confuses insects, especially flies, and keeps them away. The Anti-Fly Glass Sphere hangs from a leather rope and sells for $79. 

Above: De la O worked with a family-run glass-blowing business in Mexico City to create these mouth-blown vessels. Just fill with water and suspend near food.

Looking to add to your insect arsenal? See Five Favorite Fly Swatters and consider mixing up a batch of Alexa's DIY: Bug Repellent Balm. And if the bugs have already bitten, have a look at Erin's Natural Mosquito Bite Remedies (used tea bags are one of the seven answers).

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The Trex® decking brand is the world's first composite deck. It is durable, low-maintenance, and high-performance, designed to keep up with your family's needs and keep your weekends hassle-free. And the Trex® blend of 95 percent recycled materials keeps 400 million pounds of waste out of landfills each year.

Above: Trex® products include decking and railing, Elevations® steel substructure, and house trim. Trex® also has a line of outdoor furnishings in a wide variety of styles, crafted from recycled lumber that is easy to maintain. Shown here is Trex Transcend® railing in Classic White with Colonial Spindles.

Above: Trex® decking is backed by a 25-year limited fade and stain warranty, guaranteed to last. Trex® also offers furniture, made of high-density polyethylene, made partially from milk jugs. Above, Trex Select® railing in Classic White.

Above: Trex Elevations® steel deck framing goes unseen but is a stronger alternative to lumber that allows for fewer deck posts and obstructed views.

Above: Shown here is TrexTrim® crown molding against a beadboard ceiling, both in White. Trex® colors are vibrant and stain, scratch, and mold-resistant.

Above: Trex® products won't rot or crack. And cleanup is simple, requiring only soap and water. Above, a TrexTrim® circle window in White. 

Above: Trex Transcend® colors and wood-grain patterns deliver the look of wood.

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I remember summers in New York. Whenever any of my entourage managed to score a piece of outdoor real estate, it immediately became a community garden for all of us. We chipped in with the buying, planting, and watering so we could share in this rare urban oasis. And then? We went away for the weekend. 

Poor plants. It took no time at all for those urban plants to be scorched by hot sun pouring down on asphalt roofs. Other hapless city plantings quickly succumbed to airborne pollutants and salt.

But New Yorkers always bounce back. So the next season, we fledgling urban gardeners got smart and invested in some pollution- and drought-tolerant plants that thrived in their urban habitat.

(Suburban gardeners also take note: These plants work well for that problem area—the aptly nicknamed "hellstrip"— between your sidewalk and the street.)

Above: "Thuja in the Wind" by Ofer K. via Flickr.

Many evergreens do fine in urban environs, but Thujas (either plicata, Western Redcedar, or occidentalis, Northern Whitecedar) are particularly hardy. Commonly known as arborvitaes, these conifers (which are actually members of the cypress family) make excellent privacy hedges from prying neighbors. The feathery needles also add lovely texture as a backdrop in the garden. Mature plants grow to 30 feet, but you can cut the top to encourage outward, rather than upward, growth.

Thuja Plicata 'Green Giant' is available in several sizes for prices ranging from $22.95 to $199.95 at Sooner Plant Farm.

Above: Santolina by Zenryaku via Flickr.

Gray Santolina or Lavender Cotton has been described as a "no-fuss mound" of fragrant foliages with "cute button flowers" that can be dried. I like the contrast of soft gray and sunny yellow of this "wild and woolly" plant that needs virtually no water. A 3-inch pot is $4.95 at Mountain Valley Growers.

Above: Creeping Rock Rose via Sierra Foothill Garden.

A bushy evergreen shrub, hardy Rock Rose (Cistus) produces a profusion of fragrant summer flowers. Originally from the Mediterranean, this sun-loving, drought-tolerant plant was later cultivated to withstand more northern climes (cold hardy from zones 8 to 11). Plant it in well-drained soil. Available in white, pink, purple, and yellow at Digging Dog Nursery; $9.25.

Above: Snowberry via Town Mouse and Country Mouse, Native Gardening in Central California.

Growing up, I loved to imagine faeries and pixies playing mini games of soccer with snowberries. And though it seems delicate and does prefer partial sun, this enchanting native plant is quite adaptable to many soil and moisture conditions; it can even withstand salt spray. With pink flowers in the spring and plump white berries that last through the summer and fall, snowberry (Symphoricarpos) has an appeal that lasts beyond the typical growing season. Note: Fauna love snowberries, but they are not good for people. A 2-foot Snowberry Bush is available at Nature Hills; $34.95.

Above: Stipa tenuifolia via Wikimedia Commons.

Anyone who's visited New York City's High Line knows that ornamental grasses are perfect for urban environs. I love the soft sweep of textured Mexican Feather Grass. Don't you just want to pet it? Available at Plant Delights Nursery for $12.

Above: Teucrium via Pepiniere Fleurs du Sud.

Tolerant of drought, wind, and salt spray, Germander (Teucrium fruticans 'azureum') features lavender flowers and soft gray-green leaves. I think I'll plant one in my seaside garden as well. Available at Digging Dog Nursery; $7.75.

Above: Blue fescue (Festuca ovina glauca) via Gardener Direct.

Offering a bit of refreshing blue gray in the summer garden, softly textured blue fescue is another of my favorite grasses. It prefers full to partial sun and well-drained soil. Other than that, you can't kill it. Blue Fescue is widely available at most garden centers; it's $5.25 from Evergreen Plant Nursery. You can also buy Blue Fescue Seeds; $1.99 for a packet of 100 from Seed Corner.

Above: Sea Thrift via Greenwalks. 

For the same reason it works well in coastal gardens, Sea Thrift or Sea Pink (Armeria maritima) is also great for urban plots. Pink or white spring flowers can be deadheaded to encourage an additional summer bloom. Available at Bluestone Perennials; $8.95.

Above: Libertia by Tony Rodd via Flickr.

Native to New Zealand, the spiky amber stems of Libertia make a dramatic and unexpected statement in your urban garden. Fragrant white blossoms, which appear in the spring, only add to the allure of this unusual plant. Seeds are available at Plant World Seeds for $3.23 per packet.

Above: Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea) in spring via Trees in the City.

If you have a little more room or are planting a hellstrip, consider the magical Serviceberry. Like some kind of archetypal tree, serviceberry wears a distinct coat for each season. Spring brings a dusting of delicate white flowers, which turn to tasty purple berries (great for jams) in the summer, before a dramatic fiery finale in the fall. Available at Sooner Plant Farm, from $29.95.

Find much more expert advice about growing plants in the city at Urban Gardener.

Updated from a post originally published June 27, 2013.

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Of course you may install an enormous live tree in your sixth-floor apartment: Police will escort the crane down the street, traffic can be diverted, and neighbors are welcome to gawk at the sidewalk spectacle.

This is the philosophy of Bart Haverkamp and Pieter Croes, a pair of garden designers in Antwerp, Belgium, who specialize in designing ambitious urban gardens. We spotted their work on Coffeeklatch, where another talented team—writer Magali Elali and photographer Bart Kiggen—spent a day at work (and in the garden) with them:

Photographs by Bart Kiggen.

Above: At Bart & Pieter's Antwerp atelier, formerly a farm, a sliding window frames a courtyard view.

Above: Mature wisteria smothers a railing.

Above: The two work in a high-ceilinged city loft where the white beams create "the illusion to be in a whale's belly," says Magali Elali.

Above: Skylights make the loft space feel like a big greenhouse.

Above: Installing a sliding window.

Above: "Every project is a search for the right solution," says Pieter. "When clients want to install a new terrace, but they lack the budget, we repaint old tiles or replace them with plants. Everything is possible."

Above: Their atelier is "a stunning green and quiet oasis in the city," says Magali Elali.

Above: "At first the premises looked romantic, with ivy growing through brick," says Bart. "At second sight it was a big mess."

Above: "We didn't know we had a garden until we started cleaning up the place," says Bart.

Above: Pieter Croes and Bart HaverKamp at their "holiday house," where there is no computer. "You can swim in the pond and relax in the garden and there's plenty of space for outdoor experiments," says Pieter.

Above: For more, see "Bart & Pieter, Garden Architects."

Above: Read about a florist shop in Brussels at Fashion's Favorite Fleuriste: Thierry Boutemy in Belgium.
For more green city spaces, see Urban Gardens in our Gallery of rooms and spaces.

Updated from a post originally published July 23, 2012.

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