We were on the second floor of a UW medical facility on U. Row yesterday when I glanced out the window of the patient waiting room. I was taken aback to realize the building has a garden on top of its big roof overhang that extends out over the entrance of the building. (We had light snow Wednesday night and cold temps yesterday morning.)
I'd love to see what this looks like in the growing season but I am not sure if they let you wander the building without checking in for an actual appointment.
Madison's West Side Farmer's Market is held in the parking lot of this facility every Saturday. I've been going to that for years but never looked up; though I'm not sure if anything would be visible from down below. Alas the UW is enlarging the building and the market is moving to a new location this spring. I have a feeling I will never make it back to this location until I need a colonoscopy down the road.
Interesting that they don't publicize their green roof! I wonder how long it's been there.
Posted by: Kris P | Friday, March 24, 2023 at 07:31 PM
Interesting. If you do get back--just for curiosity and a peek during the growing season--do share what you find out.
Posted by: Beth@PlantPostings | Friday, March 24, 2023 at 08:02 PM
I THINK my mother-in-law's gardening club has helped work at that garden. Not sure if they helped when it was put in, or just with maintenance. When my grandma was at St. Mary's, and then my dad, I found comfort in their garden. It's such a nice thing for hospitals to have.
Posted by: Kristin | Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 07:59 AM
KRISTIN — I've been to the garden at St. Mary's and it is lovely. Being able to see nature is supposedly helpful for feeling and getting better.
Started snowing last night and there was about 6" on the ground when I got up at 7-ish. Now it looks like there's 8". I think this is going to be our biggest storm of the season.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 08:40 AM
BETH — I will have to remember to check it out again. I am curious to see what it looks like during the growing season.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 08:41 AM
Interesting. I wandered the internet a bit--seems like UW has done some experimenting with green roofs--bits of info in here on the challenges and lessons learned. You may already know this stuff, but I didn't. Educational--thanks!
https://wisconsin.apwa.net/Content/Chapters/wisconsin.apwa.net/File/Green%20Roof%20Presentation.pdf
Posted by: hb | Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 05:10 PM
hb — Thanks so much for that great link. Clearly the benefit of having readers who aren't local residents. I've been in Nancy Nicholas Hall dozens of times and checked out all the green features when the building first opened. Embarrassed that I never thought to check the UW to see what they were doing.
Posted by: Linda Brazill | Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 12:21 PM