See that pretty daffodil there? It’s a total fake out. Yes, it’s a daffodil growing on my terrace. But it’s a daffodil on my terrace two days ago. Before the wind. If you live in New York, you know this already: it’s been windy. “Gusts up to 40 m.p.h,” the weather people tell me. All I know is that I looked out my window yesterday morning, and I thought very loudly, “WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY PEAS?”

I planted them a few days ago. Meaning, I covered them with dirt, as is typical in “planting.” Yet when I looked out my window yesterday morning, there they were, naked to the sky. Sweet, vulnerable, shivering little peas. Just look at them:

The wind blew the soil right off of them! Like the dustbowl! It’s enough to break a plant lovers heart. And the wind kept at it all day. Gust after gust. It knocked over my new cedar tree. It tipped my clematis planter over. It shredded the blossoms on my magnolia trees. On the left, that’s one of the magnolias two days ago. The blossoms were basically the size of tulips. Lovely! On the right, that’s the same magnolia today. The flowers are basically the size of…tulip confetti. So sad!

Here’s the part where I tell you that wind is a real issue for roof gardens. Or roof-ish gardens (like mine). Here’s where I tell you there are all sorts of things you can do to mitigate this problem. Plant wind-tolerant plants (evergreens! They’re hardy!) And put up some wind-breaks (more evergreens!) Also, mulch! It’ll keep your soil from blowing away.

And here’s the part where I simply commiserate. Wind! You’re the worst! If your garden is a little tattered today too, I feel your pain.

Tags: wind