Reaching New Gardening Heights

“ Canbeeseven wing that eminent ? ” This was a commentary made by one of our editor program during a preparation session for this yield ofFine horticulture . She was referring to therooftop pollinator garden , which is place atop a multistory flat building in the midriff of Chicago . It is an oasis within a concrete jungle . But does it really attractbeneficial insect ?

The debate continued , with a couple more staff member chime in to say that they were sure bee could fly that in high spirits in pursuit of intellectual nourishment . Others were skeptical .

I too was initially leery of this wizard space . It was beautiful . It was unique . But was it truly a point that provided nourishment to good dirt ball ? Having spent many 60 minutes in it take photos , I can now answer , unequivocally , yes . In the predawn lighting of late summer the beds of this blank were teeming with parasitic white Anglo-Saxon Protestant , native bees , and even a lone implore mantis .

“ How on ground . . . ? ” I opine to myself while setting up my camera to charm some of the action .

The company did n’t slow down in the eve , although I did sleuth a few humblebee numb on the penstemons , having clearly overgorge at the pollen open bar . After descending the many flights of stair to the pavement below , I was struck by how footling louse spirit was fighting at street level . The full experience left me more in veneration of what garden intriguer and owner Hayden Regina had make : a pollinator quarry full point in the center of the third large city in the United States .

The exploit did not pass off without sacrifices and challenge , as Hayden writes in his article . He had to give up his ideal color palette , which is generally much more austere . And I can not even suppose what his chiropractic bill was after lugging every works , base of ground , and piece of lumber up to the cap on foot . But he is warm to luff out all that he did n’t have to give up in the pursuit of an eco - friendly landscape . He kept two fairly sized seating areas , placing them at either last of the ceiling so that the humans did n’t interrupt thepollinators ’ activity and vice versa . He was still able-bodied to have a multiseason designing that looks good year - round — an of import factor when you live in theMidwest . And he finds joy in tend the space every year , just like any other garden .

Except that his floats among the cloud .

According to scientist , bees can aviate up to 30,000 pes , which is mellow than the peak of Mount Everest .

I do n’t know if I ’d climb a mountain in the Himalayas to take in the beauty of a gorgeous garden , but I ’d certainly tackle the stair of a six - floor walk - up — even if I were n’t guaranteed an receptive bar at the top .

— Danielle Sherry , executive editor

Learn more :

Read about Hayden ’s Pollinator Pit Stop Rooftop Garden

See what works Hayden find knead great in toughened conditions .

Read # Issue 213 now !

Photos , except where noted : Danielle Sherry

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pollinator garden

Skyscrapers are no match for a hungry bee.Garden designer Hayden Regina relaxes in the morning with a cup of coffee in his rooftop pollinator garden (below). As the sun sets many hours later (above right), the insect activity remains in full swing. A favorite plant of the various pollinators—day or night—is ‘Onyx and Pearls’ penstemon (above left).

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rooftop deck with seating area and pollinator garden

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