Help! I'm a gardener stuck in a NYC apartment.

[Sanity Claws]

I had a house with a nice garden for the 20 years I lived in Seattle. Earlier this year, I moved back to NYC and now live in an apartment with a small deck that faces northwest; a lot of the sun is blocked by surrounding buildings.
I just planted some hyacinth and narcissus bulbs in pots and placed them on the deck. Can anyone recommend some other plants that are fragrant and suitable for a pot? Why fragrant? Because I need something to replace my old lilacs -- I always loved their fragrance and beauty in May.
Thanks for reading and whatever ideas you might have.

[japple]

1. Meyer lemon trees might work for you. Here's a good

article:

http://www.plantea.com/lemon-tree-indoor.htm

I started some in early spring, and they're about 6" tall right now. Probably won't bloom this year, but maybe in early 2009, I'll have some. Years ago, when I had my 1st apartment, someone gave me an orange tree in a pot that was about 2-3 yrs. old. It was beautiful, and loved my sunny apartment so much it bloomed almost immediately after I got it. The fragrance was heavenly.

I, too, miss lilac trees. I have one, but Georgia is just too warm for them to do well. Its production is spotty. Last year, it started getting blooms but was killed back by a hard frost in early April. They really seem to prefer cooler climes. The white ones are really pretty and seem to have a more delicate fragrance.

[Sanity Claws]

2. Thank you for the thought

I'm not sure how long I will be in this particular apartment and so was thinking more of a fragrant annual that could prosper in indirect light/shade. I used to rely on perennials so I really don't know annuals very well. Any ideas?

[japple]

3. This is a compact lemon tree grown in a pot, and I don't

think it is considered an "annual." The directions say to buy one that is 2 or 3 years old, so it would probably be about a foot high, and could be easily moved. It might require a gro-light if you don't have enough natural light, and can live outside in temps of 55 or more. Mine little seedlings lived on my carport (half sun/shade)this past summer in Georgia. I'm not trying to push anything, but these plants do have pretty, glossy foliage and the blossoms are wonderful.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. Sweet alyssum (lobularia ) would be worth a shot.

These aren't the prettiest plants but they are fragrant and thrive in containers. You could plant them with a showy, less fragrant flower like a begonia.

[Sanity Claws]

5. I'll keep them in mind.

I can hardly wait until spring.
Thanks.

[Imalittleteapot]

6. Is there enough sun for petunias?

When it warms up, try petunias. Some are very fragrant.

[Sanity Claws]

7. Thanks

I didn't know petunias were fragrant. I'll look into them.
This morning it's only 14 degrees so I can only dream of spring flowers now.

[HamdenRice]

8. There are several places where you can get free gardening space

I think there's a huge space for community gardening at Floyd Bennet Field. Where do you live? There is free gardening space available almost everywhere, if you know where to look.

[Sanity Claws]

9. Really?

I just moved back to NYC in August and don't know. To be frank, I have no idea where Floyd Bennet Field is, either. Anyway, I'll look into it.

[HamdenRice]

10. It's an abandoned airfield

It's in Jamaica Bay. As a kid I used to go fishing there and the jets would come screaming just hundred or so feet over your head!

Part of was cut up into small gardens. Here's a web site, but I'm not sure the site is still active:

http://www.fbga.net/

There are many small community gardens scattered across the city -- especially Brooklyn and lower Manhattan -- although these are usually for people in the neighborhood.

FBGA is for anyone, but it's probably much easier if you have a car.

Also, if you are in Brooklyn or the Bronx, you might call the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens or Bronx Botanical Gardens. I think they both organize or network community gardens.

[Sanity Claws]

11. Oh, too far.

I live on the Upper West Side. I grew up in Richmond Hills, Queens and am familiar with Jamaica Bay.
Are you in Queens?

[HamdenRice]

12. I'm in Queens

so my garden is in my backyard. I think we communicated before, because I remember communicating with someone who had lived in Richmond Hill.

[Sanity Claws]

13. Was it on a thread with a picture of a car

that had crashed into someone's yard? I remember seeing that tiny yard and thinking it had to be the NY area.

[HamdenRice]

14. That was me. I should have said I HAD a garden last summer

till my elderly neighbor did this:



So I'm starting fresh this year.

[HamdenRice]

15. One more thing

Funny coincidence. She finally tore down the rest of the garage just yesterday!

Two years ago, she had a huge maple tree removed.

So now I'm going to have a full sun garden!

[Sanity Claws]

16. How nice.

You're probably dreaming of all the nice plants you're going to put in.

[HamdenRice]

17. I'm so jumping the gun!

I already have parsley seedlings in an upstairs bedroom window!

[sazemisery]

18. Wow I was the only one already planting.

My spare bedroom is full of trays of seedlings. My plastic hoop house is full of all my tropicals. I have seed catalogs spread all over the coffee table.

[mitchtv]

19. Geraniums, Martha Washingtons

some come in scented
Four o'clocks, Never tried them in containers but we used to grow them in Jackson Heights.

[Sanity Claws]

20. Thanks

I never heard of four o'clocks but will look them up.

[mitchtv]

22. Mirabelis, I believe

spelling may be off

[plantwomyn]

21. Fragrant

Lavendula - lavender
Heliotrope - purple - vanilla scented
Lemaon Basil and Lemon Balm
Hardy Cyclamen - multicolors
Nicotiana - multicolors
You can also hang some of these in baskets. Maybe a combo of herbs too.