Livin' La Vida Luxem: A Garden Post

Ahhh...summer in the Ville.


Chestnuts as street trees? Yes, but you can't eat these!

This next thought is absolute, pure, unsubstantiated conjecture. From my vantage it appears that centuries of warfare have imprinted a deep set siege-mentality upon the good people of Luxembourg. They love them some vegetable gardens...and rightly so. I'm sure simple economics has a role to play in the abundance of allotments throughout the ville, but as I see it Luxembourgers have an extra gene that has mutated over the last millennium of beleaguerment, and this unique component compels them to grow food on any arable patch of land within the city limits.

Terraced allotments below the city wall along the Petrusse river.

Allotments along the Alzette river...

...and yes, you can even find some urban livestock around here :)

That siege mentality isn't for me. I put our patio together with two simple principles in mind; 1.) fun aesthetics and 2.) contain the dogs on said patio. This second consideration came as a sort of after-thought.

First a bit of explanation / history. When we first saw our apartment, the large grassy area out back looked like a perfect place to play with the dogs...or to allow them a quick pit stop in case of rain or snow. Once the ink was dry on the contract and the monies transferred, the Syndic met to review the rules of occupancy. Needless to say the new rules forbid anything other than human traffic in the rear lawn area. Fair enough. This decision did, however, require a slightly modified use of our rear terrace. That's OK - JoJo likes the patio just fine :-)

Now that we are squarely in July, I think I can officially welcome spring...er, I mean summer. Things are filling in well, and the terrace has come together quite nicely. We are sheltered on the northeast side of the building, so when the front of our apartment is being roasted by the afternoon sun we sit nice and cool out back. Ooooo...kinda makes me yearn for a refreshing sangria or perhaps a mint julep...or maybe even a French 75. 'French 75 you say?' Ah! Check back on Bastille Day ;-)

I framed the space with planters filled with dwarf bamboo and ornamental grasses. I then planted rhododendrons along the stairs that lead down to the garages - this is the access for those in our building not lucky enough to have a patio ;-)

The corners are anchored with round planters filled with heuchera, lysimachia, hosta and ferns...the ferns aren't doing so well. I may have to replant next spring. Finally, I framed the (human) egress with smaller round planters that contain fun palms that are supposed to be cold hardy to minus 5 degrees Fahrenheit! We'll see what happens this winter.

The planters and the dining table came from IKEA in Arlon, and the other patio furniture I got at the local Cactus on sale. I bought the grill at the Air Force Base...you wouldn't believe what they cost on the economy!!