"I love Rebecca - the greatest gardener I know. I recommend her to all my friends."
Neale Albert. Neale owns a Manhattan penthouse apartment with a Rebecca Cole garden. SEE his photos of the terrace garden.

"I've never met an alley I could not convert. My 10x30-foot cement sliver between buildings in Manhattan would be reserved for the garbage cans in any other town. But here we must utilize every inch of it and turn it into as much paradise as we can muster. Frankly, four walls surrounded by concrete intimidates me less than five open acres crying to be tamed. It is very difficult to better Mother Nature, whereas, the urban jungle requires very little to look better. When it comes to gardening, whether in the city or country, the rules are the same -- keep it simple by choosing a tight color palette and limiting the types of plants, honor the surroundings rather than compete or try to block them, and remember: it will grow. Be patient and let things happen. Remember, gardening is about the process, not the conclusion. Life comes and goes, so enjoy the journey."

GARDENER'S EDEN - View gardens photographed by their owners:
Neale Albert
Bryan Russo

UP ON THE ROOF - The Culture of New York City's Rooftops at the New York Historical Society

Create your own STONE FLOOR - Improve your garden with these easy steps, from Rebecca Cole andGarden Design.

BACK STORY - Rebecca's own garden transformed.

GARDEN DESIGNER MEETS INTERIOR DESIGNER - This relationship is important to your home's final result. Find out how to make it work.