One of the city's public housing projects is a very comfortable and attractive collection of brick duplexes. Many units are occupied by single seniors between the ages of 80 and 93. Most of these folks want a few flowers in front of their unit... but only one or two still have the energy to do the work. Several of us like helping them and some of these exceptionally small gardens deserve to be shared. What they lack in size they more than make up for with the choices of plants... and the degree to which they are maintained.
The "cover" photo shows Ben's single climbing rose and a large, healthy clump of Dusty Miller.
Conchita wanted lots of red flowers and leaves concentrated around the front door... other colors further out.
Billie's garden is very small... but it contains a very nice antique rose, 'Black and Blue' Salvia, a Peony, some 'Blue Mouse Ears' Hostas, 'Walker's Low' Catmint and a couple of nice, large variegated Hostas.
Billie's specimen rose is a David Austin English Rose named 'Crown Princess Margareta'. It doesn't get as dense as it would in full sun... but there is enough sun to produce a good show of blooms for a good portion of the summer.
Janis keeps her garden groomed to a "Chelsea Flower Show" standard... It contains some beautiful native plants very seldom seen in Oklahoma gardens.
Lethy went overboard with Mums a couple of years ago...
and Joyce takes a kind of "Earth Mother" approach to two small spaces by encouraging anything that might work...
In this case she worked hard for a graceful form... she nailed it beautifully
John, it's heartwarming that you help maintain gardens for the elderly. When my mother went into assisted living, one of her greatest sorrows was losing her own garden. There was a small one where she moved to that brought her much comfort, but it wasn't the same as her own.
I was a caregiver for my Mom for a while, Zoe... back in the early 90's.
The gardens you just saw are those of friends... folks I've known and liked for 10 years. We talk about their gardens... but they do at least as much work as I do... and usually far more.
Management here used to think all the little gardens should carbon-copy each other to present a more "uniform and balanced" appearance. Gradually, however, they have responded positively to everyone's individual efforts... they now find themselves complimenting flowers just as we do.
Here is one more, somewhat larger garden , shaded by a semi-mature Silver Maple:
