Gardener | Gardener Can Make Even 7th-floor Balcony Bloom
From the pole beans climbing up the railings to the tomato plants flourishing in 5-gallon buckets, it’s clear that Denise Gemellas’idea for a garden at Verona’s senior high rise is one that really blossomed.
The 63-year-old member of the Verona Flower and Garden Club said she came up with the idea for a community garden in the borough last year.
“We’re going through revitalization in Verona,” she said. “This is part of it.”
At first, she was hoping to have some plots for seniors to tend in the borough’s parklet along the river. She put up a blog last fall in an effort to generate some interest.
From there, her plans evolved into a balcony garden at the A.J. Demor Towers apartments.
“It was sensible to have it here,” she said.
Would-be gardeners from the senior living center began meeting with Gemellas in the spring. By early summer, pots of plants were sprouting on a seventh-floor balcony.
“I was amazed it did so well with what we had to work with,” she said.
Gemellas cites Carol Brand of Oakmont, who teaches gardening classes at the Oakmont Library, as her mentor.
“I just like gardening, and I learn as I go,” she said.
The Verona resident insists that she only planted the proverbial seed — it was the residents who did the bulk of the work, including watering and weeding the plants, flowers and
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