Small Space, High Diversity

An urban Puerto Rico garden packed with diverse plants

Antigonum Cajan sent us these images of his urban garden in Puerto Rico . He garden in a small space with lots of concrete around but still has managed to collect 80 dissimilar metal money of plants from 43 different menage !

I have collected plant for decades ; however , not until 2002 , when I experience my certificate in commercial horticulturelandscape management from the New York Botanical Garden did I start rigorous collecting with the urban mineral pitch / concrete contextwhere I subsist in mind . Most of the inventory has been collected on my walks or has been exchanges and presents , with very few buy in nurseries . I have propagated a lot by cut stem , seeds , and division . I do not care gingers , heliconias , orchids , bromeliads , palms , and lawns , which are in my perspective abused in many installation .

The advantage of 80 species and 43 botanical families is that I see very few broadleaf weeds and diseases , and mostly white rainfly , few snails and slug , and occasional leafage grounder . Since the garden is conceived biocentrically , I only habituate Capsicum frutenses ( hot pepper ) and Allium sativum to spray when necessary .

I choose flora , Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , bushes based on their computer architecture . I am not lovesome of vast leaves , but I appreciate some in the veracious context . make-up and contrasts in color , grain , and size are my guides , and I often deepen thing to improve the view . Vines are fundamental in my survival of the fittest . I have many dissimilar vines in the garden , and they are swell for various pollinator .

All my aspiration and influence in elan come from temperate geographies , from masses like Piet Oudolf , Clive West , and Richard Mabey . In the Caribbean archipelago , there is nothing happening in anything I have observe . It is paradigmatically dull . You obtain the same in a memorial park or park , in public and private places , since everyone buys at nurseries with the same mistreated selections . Most people here do not appreciate what I do , but I could give care less , since no one else is doing it .

Abundant vine , like this colorfulBougainvillea(Zones 9–11 ) are key to tamp down lots of life and diversity into a small space .

More lush vine create terrific habitat for many beneficial insects .

The vine - draped wall surround a peaceable terrace , where every potential corner is make full with more plants .

Raised beds are satisfy with many dissimilar plants , to maximize the multifariousness in the garden .

The garden is a bully space for human as well ! Simple chairs put up a space to sit , rest , and savor this riotous , low - sustainment garden .

Have photos to share ? We ’d bonk to see your garden , a particular appeal of plants you sleep with , or a wonderful garden you had the opportunity to see !

To submit , send 5 - 10 photograph to[email protected]along with some information about the plants in the delineation and where you have the photos . We ’d sleep with to hear where you are turn up , how long you ’ve been gardening , successes you are proud of , failure you learned from , hope for the time to come , favorite plants , or funny stories from your garden .

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