New and needy

22 years ago

Hi :) Been lurking a few days and got some helpful info but need more, so I decided to jump in.

I live in a NYC apt house, and have a patio that is about 30 x 8, faces east. This is on the second floor, over the roof of the garage, and bounded by dividers from the patios of my neighbors. I'm not entirely new to gardening out there, but due to building makeovers that have pretty much destroyed what I had before I am basically starting over with the exception of a forsythia, lilac, crab apple tree and cherry tree that managed to survive it all.

In the past, I always went out and purchased annual flats.

This year, I am pretty much housebound, so my 'shopping' has been limited to on-line purchasing, and I decided to go the way of perennials. I also purchased a couple of bird-feeders, a bird bath, etc., and I suddenly realized that I am probably not going to have many flowers out of the baby perennials I ordered, and thus not very likely to attract many birds.

Inspired by your posts (and pictures!) about morning glory, moonflower, and wave petunias I have purchased some seeds online (hope I'm not too late). I had planned to try to cover somewhat my outer "divider" (unfortunately, made of those ugly diagonal green plastic strips) with those vines and perhaps pouches with the petunias. However, they will receive NO direct sunlight, since by the time the sun is overhead, it has moved behind another part of the building.

So my basic question is will these plants thrive without direct sunlight? I had succesfully grown morning glories and moonflowers out there before, but had them against the building wall so that they actually FACED east.

Sorry for the length of this, and thanks in advance for any help.

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Comments (5)

jenny_in_se_pa
22 years ago
That might be tricky because they are known to need some sun to bloom and the MF seems to want sun and then the cessation of sun, in order to trigger the bud to open.

I sortof have a dead spot like that on my divider (I face NE and get no direct sun on the balcony in winter). In summer, it does get some sun for a bit. I have a little honeysuckle over there and I'll see if it blooms this year.

Rather than the MGs and MFs, you might want to consider something like an akebia (chocolate vine), which is supposed to be semi-evergreen and does flower and will take shade.
sahoyaref
22 years ago
If your goal is to attract birds, those plants are not going to do it. However, just having a bird feeder out with bird seed in it may attract some birds. The important thing is that they feel safe (no nearby hiding places for cats, etc.)
Black-Eyed Susan vine (Thunbergia alata) can also take some shade, and may attract birds because of the yellow colour.
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MegNYC
Original Author
22 years ago
Thanks for the tips. I am off to check out those 2 vines, and I guess the MGs and MFs will go on the fence section that faces south, and gets considerable direct sun.
deusse
22 years ago
hey! nice to see a fellow new yorker! :) i wanted to let you know that in the shady parts of my garden in brooklyn, the birds really appreciate my astilbe -- the ferny leaves really give a lot of hiding places -- i actually have a baby sparrow and his mom hiding in there at all hours. he's not doing such a great job of hiding, though, because every time i see him he's shaking his little wings and screaming "cheeeeeeeeeep!" which i believe means "feed me now i haven't eaten for nearly 30 seconds, what's the matter with you?" these are real brooklyn birds.

anyway, to second sahoyaref's post, the hiding places really seem to do it for them. i also have a small pond, and i sometimes see birds bathing and drinking there. they leave behind fertilizer, too; a little bird graffiti, sort of like "kilroy was here."
good luck with your birds :)
heidi
MegNYC
Original Author
22 years ago
Hi, Heidi . I do have 2 large pots with astilbe in them in the shade. Still no birds :-( I did have a sparrow that used to come and visit what he decided was his bird bath (an old water feature bottom with lots of pebbles in it)... totally ignoring the gorgeous blue glass bird bath I bought (and the bird feeder and suet log). He came every day about 4:30, 5 PM for a drink, but he has disappeared. I guess I need some Brooklyn birds sent my way. I'm hoping when it gets hot again (this was during that one hot week we had) he will return and bring friends.
And maybe notice all that birdseed I bought :p

I ended up putting the MF plants (MG seedlings not big enough yet) on the sunny section and dressing up the shady part will have to wait til next year.