Before and After: Less Fence, More Flowers in Melissa Goldstein's Brooklyn Backyard

A Journey Through an Urban Garden in New York City

Gardening in the heart of a bustling city like New York comes with its unique set of challenges. Limited space, lack of sunlight, and the constant presence of urban life can make it difficult to create a thriving garden. However, for those with patience and creativity, the rewards can be truly magical. This week, we’re taking a look at one such inspiring story that showcases how an urban garden can transform even the most challenging spaces into vibrant, living ecosystems.

Melissa Goldstein, a ceramist and photography consultant, has always had a deep love for nature. As a child, she enjoyed nature walks with her father, and that passion never faded. In her early years, she worked with fellow tenants in her Tribeca loft to create a communal rooftop garden. But it wasn’t until 2007 that she finally had a garden of her own. When a friend mentioned that a brownstone behind hers in Brooklyn was up for sale, she seized the opportunity without hesitation.

The property came with its own set of problems. The previous owner had been using pesticides to manage the overgrown backyard, leaving the soil poisoned. Instead of being discouraged, Goldstein took action. She had the soil tested through Cornell’s Cooperative Extension and began the long process of healing the land. She planted crimson clover to enrich the soil and brought in compost from Staten Island, slowly transforming the once-damaged yard into a fertile space for growth.

Creating Structure and Beauty

Goldstein started by focusing on structure. She purchased a beautiful boxwood from a local nursery and began propagating cuttings. Using root hormone and careful planting, she cultivated a large number of boxwoods that grew quickly. These plants were sculpted into loose balls, providing a lush green backdrop to the colorful blooms that followed.

She also removed a chain-link fence that separated her yard from her neighbor’s and replaced it with a living fence made of European hornbeam trees. She knitted them together along the property border and trained an archway so that both families could easily visit each other. The children especially loved running between the two yards, creating a sense of community and connection.

A Cool Palette with Colorful Accents

Goldstein prefers a cooler color palette, favoring blacks, purples, and pale pinks. However, she also enjoys adding touches of color to create visual interest. Her garden features roses, including old varieties like Rosa mundi, which evoke images of “red cherry juice stirred into a bowl of cream.” She also grew an exquisite orangey-pink cultivar named ‘Neighborhood Rose,’ which she rescued before a garden was razed for construction. This rose blooms all summer long, bringing joy and beauty to her space.

Other plants include irises, poppies, and salvia, which provide bursts of color. Meadowrue, bachelor buttons, and scabiosa self-seed throughout the beds, adding spontaneity and charm.

Daily Rituals and Natural Wonders

Every morning, Goldstein starts her day by sitting in one of the yellow chairs in her garden with a cup of coffee. She admires the black irises, chives, and alliums, which she intentionally planted for a purple-themed display. She also brought in a stack of rocks from Martha’s Vineyard, adding a natural element to her garden.

As she spends time in her garden, she often hears the songs of cardinals, robins, and woodpeckers. One morning, she watched a hummingbird moth sipping nectar from a delphinium, a moment that reminded her of the magic found in nature.

Creative Solutions and Personal Touches

Goldstein’s garden is filled with thoughtful details. To hide a chain-link fence, she wove flowering quinces between the links, creating an ombre effect that changes from red to coral pink to apricot as they bloom in May. This creative solution turned a potential eyesore into a stunning feature.

She also painted a construction fence black and planted a ‘Huntington’ rose in front of it, with soft grey-green lamb’s ears at the base. The rose almost glows in the twilight, adding a touch of elegance to her space.

Another notable feature is her Belgian fence made of six espaliered pear trees. Inspired by French peasants who grew fruit trees in limited spaces, Goldstein created this unique design. However, growing fruit in New York City is often a challenge due to wildlife. This year, she is bagging her pears in hopes of enjoying at least one ripe one.

A Living Legacy

Goldstein also incorporates treasures from her garden into her pottery. She bought tree peonies at a Brooklyn Botanic Garden sale and plants tulips every fall. An orange tree she once held in the palm of her hand now produces marmalade when the weather warms. Her photographs and artwork reflect the beauty and history of her garden, capturing the essence of her journey.

From the barren yard she first moved into in 2007 to the vibrant garden it has become, Goldstein’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance and creativity. Her garden not only provides beauty but also serves as a sanctuary where nature and urban life coexist in harmony.