Berlin: “Must have” sweet potato vines

Spotted at the beguiling plant shop and garden design service der garten: terra architectura in Berlin-Friedrichshain. The sign reads “The ‘must have’ of early summer: sweet potato, proliferating vines for balcony and garden.”

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Berlin: Knit for the trees

Tackily dressed, but warm, tree spotted in Samariter Kiez in Berlin-Friedrichshain.

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Berlin: Green under the manhole cover

Did you ever wonder… what can happen under… under a manhole cover? I had to stop in my tracks while strolling around Sonntagstraße in Berlin-Friedrichshain recently – there was something alive down there!

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Berlin: It’s definitely dandelion time

As far as prolific growth and prevalence go, the dandelion is definitely Berlin’s plant of the moment. Yellow blossoms are carpeting every median strip and every unoccupied patch of grass in the city…

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Berlin: Twins for Arbor Day

Today, these twin baby bushes, perched on the sidewalk in front of a Berlin bar, made me smile. Today, I was also wished a happy Arbor Day. Wikipedia tells me that German Arbor Day is on April 25, but US Arbor Day is the last Friday of April – today. Since I missed the local [...]

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Berlin: Urban plant street art

A doubly illicit urban plant on the side of a clothing donation bin in Prenzlauer Berg.

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Berlin: Seedlings take over kitchen counter

Not all urban plants sprout up uninvited on the mean sidewalks of the city. Indeed, in Berlin, planting the balcony is a spring ritual for many. Those without balconies, like myself, have adopted bits of land in community gardens. It’s still too early for many plants to be planted outdoors, but seedlings are being started [...]

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Berlin-Friedrichshain: Nomadic cactus, abloom

This laid-back cactus must have an interesting life. A glam little character with its bright red color and gold spray-painted pot, chilling under a disco ball, it lives on the dashboard of a van that clearly goes places. Well stocked with maps and music, this little guy is living the dream. Spotted recently at Boxhagener [...]

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Berlin: First spring harvest – chives – and recipes

So many chives! Although we had not cared for, planted or even visited our community garden plot until yesterday, we arrived to find a ridiculous amount of lush chives to harvest. Now in their fifth year, our plants are apparently robust enough to take care of themselves and provide a hands-off first spring crop for [...]

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Berlin: Two small pots of urban herbs

Spotted yesterday at Prince Charles, a bar in the Aufbau Haus at Moritzplatz.

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