Storefront Gardens

9 Comments
Photo by Gayla Trail All Rights Reserved

My pal Barry and I started a new, collaborative internet website (aka “blog” if you must) called Storefront Gardens, documenting the various shop window gardens we pass by in our day-to-day lives and travels.

Recently, while enjoying our new favourite espresso-based coffee beverage, cortados, we discovered a mutual fascination for these unusual botanical window displays. From the well-tended to the ratty disasters, we seem to love them all.

In a moment of caffeine-induced insanity, because what I need just before a big trip is ANOTHER project, I proclaimed that, “We should document them and start a blog about it!”

And then we did.

Thanks to Davin, my number one enabler, who went ahead and registered the site AND designed it for us.

Gayla Trail
Gayla is a writer, photographer, and former graphic designer with a background in the Fine Arts, cultural criticism, and ecology. She is the author, photographer, and designer of best-selling books on gardening, cooking, and preserving.

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9 thoughts on “Storefront Gardens”

  1. I LOVE the idea. Looking at homey shops sharing bits of green is like a little slice of heaven, I’ll continue peeking at your new blog.

    I also know how you feel about compulsive project starting. You get a great idea, run with it, THEN you remember there’s no time to work on it. None. Oops..

  2. Love the site! Such a cute idea.

    I too am very aware of plants in public places and particularly in stores and restaurants. More often than not though my reaction is one of cringing and sympathy for the condition of the plants. I have seen so many badly tended plants. Many just need water – can’t people SEE the drooping dehydrated misery? Or dusting? How can they breathe?

    And then there are the poor under potted giants. The huge rubber trees and corn plants, ficuses and scheffleras in pots so small you wonder how they live. It’s not like their weird proportions are artistically attractive or something… some kind of reverse bonsai.

    Many a time I have pointed out to a proprietor that a plant needs some TLC or at least a drink of water. I have fantasies of kidnapping plants so I can take them home to care for them as they deserve. (Yes, I am the cat lady of plants.)

    And then there are the beautiful planters and huge pots sitting in front of an establishment totally empty. I can’t help but think a pot that size is at least a hundred bucks, if they don’t want to use it – I sure do.

    Oh goodness, I think you hit a nerve I didn’t realize I had.

  3. Perhaps our next project should be sanctuary for “rescue plants”?

    Also I’d like to add my thanks to Davin for all his help on Storefrontgardens.

  4. I really liked that there’s that sign saying THIS IS OUR GARDEN blah blah blah blah blah – well maybe not quite yelling it but that they are saying it … HAHAHAHAHA – I really liked that!

  5. O’Barry – careful what you ask for … I know just the almost perfect totally empty greenhouse where a few wizened twigs are whining away for a few more old dilapidated scuzzy-good for UGLY nothing friends … for sure they’d all just love to get photographed back to health …

  6. I have to admit I can relate to “rescue” plants. There are so many plants in businesses that are courageously growing in the worst conditions. I have been known to lay a guilt trip on a few people to please take care of these plants. But I do love the idea of the new blog. Loved that one in Cuba.

  8. Jennifer: Have you nothing like this where you are? There are so many here in Toronto but I have seen it in other cities I’ve visited as well.

    In my mind its just another example of gardeners making use of whatever space they have available to them — especially if that space is a big, full-sun window!

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