Boulders on B Street

Peter: 5th Aug 2005 - 13:58 GMT

you missed the best part! that huge mural, on the wall headed up Bergen, that depicts tons of boulders and rocks with faces staring up at a starry night. so strange. i noticed it was signed "D.G. Wilson", the guy who used to have the tattoo parlor up on Washington, next to C-Town near Park.

Anyway...

I've walked past this place a thousand times, and am always fascinated... for some reason, I've never thought baout posting it here!

I saw a rather old white woman standing on the stoop the other day, in a huge straw hat, watering the garden. I love that garden. I'm amazed that she can get away with it, especially grouped around the fire-hydrant like that, heh. I also like the industrial-looking stuff piled around the Bergen side of the house... the giant spring, motor parts, etc.

Simply fascinating! Thanks for making these and sharing em, GGP!

elaine: 5th Aug 2005 - 14:30 GMT

"I am tempted to ring the doorbell one of these days to express my appreciation for this spectacle, but that is such NOT a New York City thing to do!" well, yeah, but it sounds like neither is this. obviously not your total mainstream line toe-er doing this. i love the cascade down the steps, like a frozen moment in an earthquake

GGP: 5th Aug 2005 - 14:55 GMT

damn, peter! I DID forget to shoot the mural. that was dopey! rocks in my head, I reckon!
elaine: truth is, I am a little scared to ring the bell! I don't want my pile of bones found under one of those boulders in 20 years...and it's hard not to believe the Incredible Hulk (artistic though he may be), isn't residing there! ;) perhaps I will work up my nerve, all in the service of CITYNOISE.

Peter: 5th Aug 2005 - 15:11 GMT

yeah, if i had a dollar for every time ive wondered how the hell they got all those rocks there, id be a rich man!

Peter: 5th Aug 2005 - 16:11 GMT

as far as i can tell, its a single family home... which is rare in this neighborhood. most of the old brownstones like that have been split into at least 2-3 apartments or so. that huge four story house for probably two people! lucky them... they must have been living there forever! :)

elaine: 5th Aug 2005 - 18:54 GMT

har. they must be strong, it's true, and they do have the dawg guarding

joey: 6th Aug 2005 - 05:34 GMT

maybe martha stewart knows who lives there, you know. the landscape design smells a bit 'aristocratic' if you know. what's the street address? i want to google map it on the satellite view

Morgan: 13th May 2006 - 04:21 GMT

ahh this is crazy that i found this page but thanks so much for all the wonderful compliments and responses
1) my mother and two strong men carry those boulders from various places in the neighborhood
2) we are not aristocratic at all----my mother is just a spunky, artistic, and eccletic....shes managed to make our block fabulous
3) the older white woman in a straw hat looks like shes 35!
4) we have gotten notices about the hydrant but it was about 10 years ago and i think people appreciate the sidewalks aesthetics more than their security ha (but there is some irony with my mothers choice to block the fire hydrant because there was a horrible fire next door to our house that killed our neighbor and ruined both our home and the one on the opposite side so maybe we shouldnt be covering the hydrant? i dont quite know =) )
and WE ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN WELCOME TO ASK US QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HOME WHEN WE ARE ON THE STOOP, WHICH IS VERY OFTEN

But these are amazing pictures and im happy i stumbled upon them randomly, i have a question for anyone who may know:
are there any other websites on my home?, because id love to see..thanks again

DG WILSON: 7th Mar 2007 - 22:06 GMT

I WAS INSPIRED TO DO THIS MURAL BECAUSE OF ALL THE ROCKS. ITS CALLED NEW ARRIVAL = AS YOU SEE HUGE BOULDERS SURROUNDING A NEW LITTLE ONE. EVERYTIME I PASSED ALL I SAW WAS BAD TAGGING ON THIS BEAUTIFUL HOUSE. SO I OFFERED TO DO A MURAL FOR FREE . I AM SO PLEASED THAT IT IS STILL APPRECIATED.
BTW I HAVE A SHOP IN BEDSTY CHECK OUT WWW.MASTERPIECESTATTOOS.COM
THANKS DG WILSON

Yendys (from Dean st) May 2008: 5th May 2008 - 02:33 GMT

I wish I lived in that house,the garden is simply a work of art! Just last week I actually laid eyes on the lady with the hat! I've always tried to envision what she might look like, I wasn't too far off. I was driving on Bergen st and there she was, watering the garden. I wanted to stop and ask her about her garden,but I thought, what if she's mean? (LOL) Anyway, I've been in love with the mystery garden for about 8 years now. I'm happy to know that others appreciate her care and respect for the earth and NATURE's GREEN BEAUTY. I've always wondered about the mural too,it's next level. Maybe we'll get to see the inside of that house on the next house tour...hey, let's suggest that!

anon (c-71-235-251-172.hsd1.ct.comcast.net): 16th May 2010 - 15:41 GMT

shes not mean. this is her daughter but i could see where youd think that because were from brooklyn. shes a nice southern woman if you said hello shed say it back. thanks i hate the mural personally and all the rocks in hte front had to be moved because the city made her but thanks again

anon: 25th Dec 2010 - 05:07 GMT

im here other daughter and i hate the mural as well...i prefer the graffiti

juliedahl@comcast.com: 17th Jan 2012 - 05:03 GMT

I love the photo of the curbside rock garden, in the story about Boulders on B Street. I am a volunteer Master Gardener in Hennepin County, Minnesota. I am preparing a power point presentation of rock gardening and looking for images of particular plants and types of gardens.

I am seeking permission to use the second photograph (curbside rock garden)for educational, not commercial purposes. I would give the photo whatever photo credit you would like. Thank you for your consideration.