if you're still looking for garden ctrs in manhattan here's one big one: chelsea gardens 580 11th Ave New York, NY 10036 (212) 727-7100â you can also go to 'flower district' - 28st between 7ave and 6ave and some shops are on 6th nearby. there's a review of some shops here http://www.yelp.com/c/nyc/gardening

My guess is, that what goes around the southern France, Italy or Greece, will also go in that space. Hot summers and cold, but still rather mild winters. Stuff like Bourgonvilla might die down in the winter, but would perk right back up, in the spring! Stuff that goes outside, but has a short blooming period out there, might get a longer period inside (how does the smell of moonflowers from early July to mid November sound to you?). Eucalyptus might die down the first couple of winters, but will in time get very strong and tall. I think a bay-leaf would do well year round. Peaches and grapevines would do great as well, no doubt about that. Figs too. Passiflora actinia and caerulea plus some of the hybrids can withstand down to -8c/ 18f. I÷m envious!

As a perpetual tourist (I live here), here's my take: 1) STATUE OF LIBERTY. This is an all day trip. Go early. Book your tickets ahead of time on the Internet. Pack a lunch. The kind of food they sell on the island is the kind that gets you sick on the ferry going back. You can go to the highest point, the crown, if you go on the first boat of the day. But it's not worth it (tiny little room, tiny windows, crappy view, horrific climb up corkscrew stairs to get there). The rest of the day, you'll go to the base, which has a great view. There is also a fantastic museum IN the Statue. You can buy combo tickets for the Statue and Ellis Island, but even if you whiz through the Statue, you will end up with about an hour to spend on Ellis Island--if you are really interested in Ellis Island, think about making it a separate trip. 2) I third the STATEN ISLAND FERRY. Here's what I usually do with my guests. Find out when sunset is (check the paper's weather page or the Internet). Make sure that you are in the waiting room for the Staten Island Ferry 15 minutes before that time. Get on the ferry. Watch the sunset of the Statue of Liberty. When you get to Staten Island, get off the ferry and get on the next one going to Manhattan. If you are in the front of the boat, facing Manhattan, you will get a postcard view of downtown Manhattan all lit up. Did I mention that this trip is FREE??? As I think of more, I'll post more.

No replies? Pity! I am not exactly a novice gardener, but I have all the same questions as the OP! My gardening experience is not much use, as I will be moving from a quarter-acre subarctic, semi-arid, high altitude USDA Zone 2-4 area in western Canada to an inner city apartment in the Northwestern US with a (relatively) large Zone 8-9 roofdeck (not unlike the UK), where I want to do all the same things as the OP. Automated watering and drainage (without damage to the building membrane) are my initial concerns. I haven't found any drainage "trays" large enough for my purposes, so I am leaning to improvising one with some kind of sheet flooring material with some kind of edging, with some kind of channel leading to the existing floor drain, perhaps disguised with with smooth pebbles. I have seen some excellent lightweight garage flooring systems for lifting traffic and sitting areas above any puddles. Black planter boxes would be ideal for other areas, though, again I haven't found an existing product large, basic and inexpensive enough for my needs. The one essential I have in mind, though, is that the drain must be on the side wall, not the bottom, and (since it is a wet climate) I will also install a vertical PVC pipe from which excess water can be pumped from the bottom, if necessary. Good drip irrigation systems are readily available, so no worries there. Plant materials are another universe of questions. What vines, trees and shrubs will withstand and flourish (i.e. bulk up) in this windy environment? Parts of the deck will have full sun until early afternoon, but the principal exposure is NE, which will be less suitable for crops or flowers. But some lush evergreens, vines, groundcovers, a Japanese maple, and some herbs and salad greens would be splendid. Has anyone tried growing bamboo in such a location? That would make an awesome screen or backdrop. And if it blows over, no great loss.