Author, Speaker, Garden Designer
Garden Coaching and Forestscaping
Sales Representative & Gardening Coach
TEICH GARDEN SYSTEMS
www.teichgardensystems.com
Welcome to the official website of Garden Your City.
Published in 2005, this book was written because there were no basic "how-to" books on how and where people could garden. Truly, no matter where you live, there are opportunities and places for you to garden. With the simple act of planting a seed, you create beauty with a vegetable, herb, or flower while improving your quality of life - - and you will also benefit nature and wildlife.
Both my home town of Demarest, NJ and our new home just over 50 miles north of NYC have populations that hover near 5,000. . . just a tad different from the island of Manhattan where I gardened with my fantastic husband, Fred, for over 18 years.
But "place" really doesn't matter much, since the techniques of gardening are the same no matter where you live. 
Click on BOOK COVER & CONTENTS for private and public gardening ideas.
Every town has a Main Street and some public space to garden. Whether placing a few tulips to herald spring by the mailbox or street sign, growing native grasses aside an historical plaque, or planting daffodil bulbs in memory of 9/11, inquire at your Town Hall, or call a local park manager, or garden club for permission to grow.
Add the fragrance of a flower you grew from seed,
the beauty of a tree you planted with your hands,
or the thrill of tasting the first ripe organic tomato.
Take time to observe bluebirds feed their young
or watch a Monarch butterfly dance on the wind.
Now you understand the awe and joy. You're a gardener.
Garden Your City is a down-to-earth, how-to-get-gardening primer. Don't think you have a place to grow? Well, you do! Learn where you can garden.
Constitution Island (Chair, Garden Day, 2008), Manitoga Woodland Landscape Council (Entrance Meadow), Philipstown Citizens Alliance, Putnam County Farm Tours, Secret Garden Tours (featured garden, June 2008), Cold Spring Farmer's Market (signings; Local Yokels), Hudson Highland Land Trust
2008 Events
Manitoga Entrance Meadow - May 17th
Secret Garden Tour - PARC, featured Garden, June 14th
Garden Day: Anna's Secrets Revealed - July 26th
Garden Design & Coaching
Personal consultations for optimum garden enjoyment, siting of vegetable, herb, perennial gardens, and forestscaping. Learn gardening skills. Book a nursery visit to stop wasting time and money; learn to select plants that will thrive on your property.
See HudsonHighlandsGarden Design.com
Please click on CONTACT US to schedule appointments - design, speaking engagements, consultations, gardening coaching and classes, book readings and signing, and nursery trips.
TELEVISION
HGTV - Paul James' Gardening by the Yard
Roof Gardening & Hillside Gardening Click CONTACT US for rerun dates.
MAGAZINES
Better Homes & Gardens - Garden Ideas & Outdoor Living, Horticulture, Mother Earth News, Las Vegas Home & Design, The American Gardener
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SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW - 2006, 2007, 2008 - invited for 2009
Philipstown Garden Club, Hudson Valley Festival, The New York Times'
Great Read in the Park, bookstores in New York and Chicago, hosted Volunteer Gardeners in NYC Parks Party; Launch - Smith & Hawkin, SoHo
See CONTACT US - - to book lectures, interviews, and consultations.
GARDEN YOUR CITY is an ideal for public volunteer beautification projects,
school gardens, and a perfect gift for a new homeowner.
Hardcover, 232 pages, 50 illustrations; color photos
Illustrations by talented artist and gardener and dear friend, PAULA BRINKMAN.
Garden Your City is available wherever books are sold.
Barbara Hobens Feldt designed the CONCEPT GARDEN, a viewing garden at the northeast entrance of Pier 84 in Hudson River Park. The perennials, shrubs, and trees were selected in the spring of 2006, held in a makeshift nursery in front of Pier 40 until construction was completed for the fall opening. Located at the end of West 44th Street, the garden is tended by community volunteers, continuing a tradition of beautification of the Hudson River since spring of 1995.
REBUILT PIER 84 OPENS:
New York City, New York State & Volunteers Celebrate
The Hudson River Park Trust rebuilt the collapsed pier and the joyous ribbon-cutting was held October 17, 2006. Friends of Pier 84 initially formed to ensure safe public access but soon faced the challenge of defeating plans for a tourist heliport on top of an enormous aircraft carrier, USS Guadalcanal, that would have destoyed Pier 84. Long story short - they won! It took a mere 12 years of volunteer enthusism and dedication to celebrate "mission accomplished."
The viewing garden at the entrance was designed for the Hudson River Trust by the the founder of director of the Manhattan Botanical Garden, Barbara Feldt. The Greenacre Foundation and The New York City Environmental Fund provided support for the wildlife garden including native trees, shrubs, perennials, planters, and Kingswinford the gargoyle.
Pier 84 is the largest public pier in the five-mile Hudson River Park that stretches south from West 59th to Battery Park City. The End Hook that juts out into the Hudson River estuary offers commanding views pastthe george Washington Bridge and offers welcome summer breezes.
The original structure was built in the mid-1920's at the end of West 44th Street for commercial ships and passenger liners. Grace Kelly sailed from Pier 84 to marry the Prince of Monaco. The historic WWII carrier,Intrepid, will return to the north (being restored) and Circle Line to the south.
Pre-reconstruction of Pier 84, Summer 2003
Garden Your City is for those who want to, but don't think they have a place to garden, for those that have their own private space to grow but have no clue how to start, and for individuals and groups who want to beautify their building, park, community, or city by gardening.
Every place you stand has history...research and learn about it, then celebrate
through gardening.
Garrit's Parterres, researched, designed, and installed by Barbara Feldt, is part of the reconstructed gardens of Striker's Mansion (1818-1872) in DeWitt Clinton Park along West 52nd Street overlooking the Hudson River in Manhattan.
