Stoop Gardens

Living in an urban area I find it so important to surround yourself with as much of nature's beauty as possible.  It is really awful to live on a street without trees and other greenery and flowers.  When I purchased my home there were no trees what so ever on my street.  I worked with the local Community Gardens to have some trees planted on my block.  We need more trees but we are off to a good start.

Another way to bring nature into an urban area is to create stoop gardens.  You see them a lot in New York City.  Many residents in downtown Troy New York have also created beautiful stoop gardens.  I used to put lots of pink wave petunias on my stoop, along morning glories and with hostas.  I no longer have a stoop garden because I got fed up with people stealing my plants and the gorgeous pots I had them in.  Until my neighborhood finishes going through its transformation I refuse to keep creating stoop gardens every summer.  I actually start crying when I open my front door to find that someone has stolen some of my plants and flowers.  I always put my heart and soul into my stoop garden.  I used to get lots of compliments on it.  People used to tell they loved looking at my stoop every morning as they drove into work.  The colors were so vibrant and the pots were beautiful.

Below of some photos of stoop gardens around New York.

 The above photo property of Harlem Bespoke

  

Washington Park

Washington Park is one of our most beautiful areas in Troy.  The park is one of only 2 private parks in the United States.  It is surrounded by 19th century mansions.  some of them are still single family dwellings.  

The Making of A Collar City

Troy New York is a city that I fell in love with 11 years ago.  I came to Troy for the first time right after purchasing my first house in Athens, NY to visit the Hart Cluett Mansion in downtown Troy.  The city drew me in immediately because of the beautiful 18th century architecture that abounds throughout.  The architecture gives Troy an old world charm that makes you feel as if you stepped back in time.  At one time, Troy was the 5th wealthiest city in America and the industrial revolution was alive and well here.  

Hannah Lord Montague, who was the wife of a Blacksmith in Troy, invented the detachable shirt collar in 1827.   

 

This is a photo of the Cluett and Peabody Company shirt factory circa 1920'S.  

Cluett and Peabody ironing department circa 1920.

 

Cluett and Peabody dampening department circa 1920.

     The is a picture of Troy's waterfront circa 1909.

Here is a view of Troy from the year 1858.

 The Gurley building downtown Troy New York.  From the cars the picture this looks to be the 1970's.  

This is the Gurley building in what looks like the 1920's.

The Burden Water Wheel

 Troy New York's Monument Square

The autumn season in Troy New York.

Loving Troy's Architectural Heritage

It is amazing that 7 years has past by already since I moved to Troy.  I find that the longer I live in Troy the more I love this city.  To me it is actually more like a big town than a city because of its small size and great neighborhood connectivity.  What made me fall in love with Troy initially is its huge stock of magnificent historic architecture.  Everywhere you turn you see old world charm.  At one time Troy was the 5th wealthiest city in America and that is certainly evident as you drive around Troy's neighborhoods. 


One afternoon I decided to drive around and document on camera some of the beautiful buildings just in my neighborhood alone.  What I captured is what you see all throughout Troy.