Our secret summer project

This summer, with the help of our team, we embarked on a small project. We were left with a key to the bachelor pad of our friend Zack, who was back in the US for the summer getting married. Since two people would be coming back to live in this place (one of which was a girl), it clearly needed some transformation.

Not wanting to force our own aesthetics on their interior rooms, we chose to work on their rooftop garden as a wedding present.

It seemed simple enough - buy some new plants, clean the area up, add some lights. As things like this usually go, however, it ended up being a pretty decent project!

One of the problems was weeds. A variety of vines, brambles, and gnarly weeds had taken control of the garden, twisting their branches and roots through every bed.

Elaine didn't seem to mind them too much.

But they seemed to make Rachel crazy.

We dug up several dead trees and pulled all the vines out. Rachel pulled this one out - she was quite proud (though very tired and sweaty):

The garden was finally ready to be replanted. Before we tore out the old plants, we had picked up our local nursery man and brought him over to scout it out. A look of disgust came across his face when he saw the chaotic, weed-filled gardens. But, he was quite helpful in recommending good, hardy plants to install. We loaded up a cart full of new shrubs and trees, and the whole shop came along to help - his friend, friend's wife, son, and daughter. The whole family.

We walked over to the apartment, and then brought the plants up....7 flights of stairs....to the apartment. (I'm glad those men were there. I never would have made it.)

But as soon as all the plants were ready to be installed...

So we waited. It went on for a good 30 minutes. We chatted with the family for awhile, but the kids quickly became impatient. So the daughter grabbed a garbage bag to use a makeshift poncho.
Her mom said that we can use the picture "to show people in America what a Chinese girl looks like."

Soon the rain slowed, and the men wanted to get the job done. However, they thought the rain was too cold, so they decided to follow the girl's lead and don a garbage bag as well.

They were VERY little bags. It was pretty ridiculous.

So within minutes, the plants were in and we got the place cleaned up. We did not have the opportunity to get a picture of the finished product, so we will bring our camera this weekend when we go over there for dessert.

The nursery man put it best: "Before this place was like hell. But now, it is heaven."

-alan