Garden State
Early morning, when the sun isn't fully out and the air is still, is Arthur van Langenberg's favourite time for gardening. The surgeon and author of Urban Gardening: A Hong Kong Gardener's Journal adds: 'At this time, many workers walk past my vegetable patch and we get into a discussion. Neighbours walk by and comment. I often distribute seeds, cuttings and vegetables to passers-by.'
Gardening is still a rare sight in metropolitan Hong Kong, but perhaps not for much longer. Increased environmental awareness has led to more Hong Kong people developing green thumbs. Few residents here have conventional gardens but, amid the concrete apartment blocks and glass skyscrapers, Van Langenberg asks: 'What is an urban garden anyway?' He cites a taxi with a potted plant. And sampans festooned with flower pots. These little bursts of green interspersed across the city all belong to true urban gardeners for whom no area is too small for a flower to bloom. But for those lucky enough to have balconies, rooftops or even lawns - no matter the size - a conventional garden is possible.
Pedro Lee, manager at KK Horticulture, says each location has to be assessed to determine how much sun, wind, cold and heat the area is exposed to, as this will dictate the type of plants that will work best in the space. Although space is a hindrance in Hong Kong gardening, the weather poses more of a challenge. 'A lot of clients are attracted to flowery plants for colour, but they can be very difficult to maintain in Hong Kong's unpredictable weather,' says Lee. 'If you have a rooftop garden, one typhoon or extremely windy storm can blow the flowers off the plant leaving it bare the next day. This is also the same for large leaved plants such as banana trees.'
This was the biggest problem for Carmen Yee, whose ocean-front house in Clear Water Bay meant many plants were out of the question. 'As a general rule,' Lee says, 'the nicer view you have, the less versatile your garden can be. This house gets a lot of sun but with the amount of sea wind this particular house is susceptible to, especially in the winter, I suggested we stick to trees and plants with smaller flowers and leaves that won't be easily swayed'.
Yee's busy lifestyle leaves little time to devote to gardening, so low maintenance is essential. 'I didn't want anything that required too much care and, living in Hong Kong, I'm also wary of any plants that may attract a lot of insects, especially mosquitoes and butterflies. I was after something simple yet modern that can double as an entertainment area,' says Yee.
Architect Clement Cheng designed the Yee residence and says complementing the aesthetics of a house to an outdoor space is crucial. 'If you have a modern house, it makes sense to have a contemporary garden,' Cheng says.
The result is a clean lawn space that leads to the pool with pine trees and a palm tree retained from the previous owner. A well-aged Buddhist pine tree from a nursery can start at HK$9,000, so it made sense for Yee to keep the existing arboreal attraction. Lining one side of the pool are alternating juniper balls and golden dewdrops which give purple flowers in bloom. Pebbles line the other side.
Herbs such as basil and coriander can grow well under sheltered shade but can attract insects. If creepy crawlies are a concern, be aware that clusters of flowers in general from hibiscus to ixora tend to attract bees and butterflies - as do strongly scented magnolia, jasmine and lime plants. Snail eggs can also be carried by the wind and then be difficult to pick off if there is a large grass area.
Sticky traps can be laid among the leaves to trap flying insects but they can be an eyesore. It is best to find eco-friendly solutions and organic sprays are available if they do get out of control.
If you are after something lush and tropical a ground-floor flat balcony would be ideal as this area is less likely to be affected by harsh weather. 'The Asian 'spa' theme is very popular among my clients,' says Sophie Barclay, a part-time garden designer and bronze medal winner for show garden at the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show 1993.
One such client was after a tropical garden for her Mid-Levels flat with as much planting as possible, while having paving large enough to move around and accommodate a yoga mat and BBQ.
'This space is very sheltered from wind by all the surrounding buildings,' says Barclay, 'so we have been able to use large leaved plants. There are areas of sun and shade in her garden in the summer but in the winter the sunny areas will be minimal making it quite difficult to get constant flowering of shrubs. In the end, we predominantly went for plants that would give the lush green look - dracaenas, ferns, bamboo palms, and bird of paradise.'
For the sunnier months, tough tropical flowers such as heliconia, frangipani and bougainvillea can do well in the high humidity. 'The principles of design remain the same whether designing for a large garden or a small space,' says Barclay. 'Even a small garden needs to reflect the desired style and requirements and the architectural style of their home.'
The balance between paving and planting areas was achieved by using planter boxes to line one side of the garden. This left the remaining space for furniture and extra decor.
From flats to shop floors, space is always in demand, but for true urban gardeners in congested cities such as Hong Kong, the mantra remains that no space is too small.
