# @ahs_gardening on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DLYB5I-SUbf
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/55035999-ahs-gardening-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/f1780457f5.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-06-26T19:18:24.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Horticultural Society | American Gardener Magazine (@ahs_gardening) — https://gondola.cc/ahs_gardening

## Caption

I’m still thinking about the story Tony Spencer shared with us in our May/June issue—how he turned a basic flat roof into a thriving green roof ecosystem. His plants grow in just four to six inches of recycled brick substrate and are completely exposed to the wild Canadian elements… and yet they’re thriving. ⁠
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Even more impressive: the whole thing is engineered to capture stormwater and direct it through rain chains, downspouts, and pipes into a bioswale and rain garden below. It’s beautiful and incredibly smart.⁠
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Green roofs like this can help reduce urban heat, absorb runoff, and lower carbon levels—plus, they give us a glimpse of what’s possible when we design gardens that work with the climate rather than against it. As Tony puts it, “In our climate-changed world, the garden imperative is to aim to be ready for almost anything.” ⁠
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Tony’s work is such a good reminder that gardens can be resilient, artistic, and deeply purposeful. Have you seen or planted any green roofs lately? Would love to hear. ⁠
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Tony Spencer (the_new_perrenialist) will be speaking at the Nantucket Garden Festival on July 9 2025.  Catch him live if you can!⁠
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Members can read Tony’s full story, Designing on a Higher Plane, at ahsgardening.org (just log in with your member password). Not a member yet? You can join us at connect.ahsgardening.org/join!⁠
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nantucketgardenfestival straightwharf perennialplantassociation ⁠Green roof system: zincocanada⁠
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#greenroof #stormwaterdesign #climateresilientgardening #gardendesign #perennials #tonyspencer #thenewperennialist #gardeningforchange #sustainablegardening #ahsmembers⁠
⁠#AHSgardening #PerennialPlants #GreenRoofs #SustainableGardens #NantucketGardenFestival #AmericanGardener ⁠
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## Tags

perennialplants, perennials, greenroofs, ahsgardening, sustainablegardening, sustainablegardens, gardendesign, gardeningforchange, tonyspencer, ahsmembers, stormwaterdesign, greenroof, thenewperennialist, nantucketgardenfestival, climateresilientgardening, americangardener

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