Decks in the city

For gardening, entertaining, or escaping the urban din, residents seek the peace of rooftop spaces

Stop at a red light in this city and casually look up. You'll see hints of rooftop living. A leafy branch indifferently reveals itself over a ledge. Bamboo, swaying in the breeze, peeks at the bustle below. There are twinkling lights, a patio umbrella, and, hey, is that a champagne flute in someone's hand?

A closer look at these high-rise hideaways discloses the truth: City dwellers find peace and solitude, not to mention spectacular views, far above the concrete jungle. Whether it's morning coffee or cocktails or a midnight read, those lucky enough to have roof deck access can escape their four walls and live an open-air life here in the summer.

When Michele Topor moved to Boston in 1970, she'd been accustomed to the wide-open spaces a childhood in Central Massachusetts affords. A lifelong gardener who'd helped her mother tend large plots, the new city dweller found spaces to cultivate wherever she could. Her first North End apartment had a graveled rooftop, which allowed her to raise a few potted tomatoes. A subsequent basement apartment offered another outdoor space, albeit a shadier one.

Topor hit the jackpot with her condo purchase 20 years ago. The North End top-floor dwelling had private roof rights, and she quickly got to work installing her urban oasis. At 400 square feet and with beautiful views of the Boston skyline, her roof is her own private island. Sicily, to be precise. Topor conducts food tours in Italy, and her many visits to the island have inspired the deck's ambiance. There are lemon and kumquat trees, giant rosemary standards, flowering vines, and lots of vegetables and herbs.

Yes, the intense sun and strong winds can pose a challenge. But at night it becomes a different world. Topor spends most of her evenings on the deck, so she has surrounded herself with white flowers or ones that are fragrant at night, such as jasmine and moon flower. "I get the most enjoyment sitting here," Topor says, "cooking on the grill and enjoying it with friends."

Karen Semmelman and Bernie Ortwein are in just their second season on their roof deck but already they can't imagine living without it. In 2006, the couple moved to the North End from the Chesapeake Bay area, where they'd gardened on 3 1/2 acres of waterfront property. "I knew a lot about traditional gardening in the ground," Semmelman says. "We knew nothing about gardening in containers."

Working with Deborah Trickett of The Captured Garden, they transformed the 2,000-square-foot roof deck into four separate "rooms," or distinct spaces, each with custom-built planters.

A favorite heron sculpture serves as a focal point for the blue-hued outdoor breakfast nook, which overlooks Boston Harbor. The outdoor dining and living areas, with views of the Tobin Bridge, Charles River, and city skyline, are favorite spots for afternoons and evenings. And an area just off the couple's glass-walled bedroom has been transformed into Fairyland, home to a much-beloved fairy sculpture brought from their Chesapeake home.

To cultivate his inner farmer, Ortwein has found room for tomatoes, peppers, even zucchini in two 40-inch square raised beds. In fact, the couple recently celebrated the first cucumber of the season with a glass of champagne.

With so many outdoor spaces, they often find it a challenge to figure out where to settle themselves. "It's hard to leave," Semmelman says. "We used to go out to eat, but now we don't want to miss the time we have here."

"They couldn't have positioned the bridge more perfectly for us," Duncan Donahue says with a wink, referring to his one-of-a-kind view. With the Bunker Hill Monument framed perfectly within the columns of the Zakim Bridge, his deck provides a unique perspective on the city's past, present, and future.

Donahue and Tom Fortier purchased the top-floor unit in Charlestown 15 years ago, and built their current 800-square-foot roof deck five years later. They entertain up there regularly from small cocktail gatherings to large dinner parties and have arranged the deck to have separate spaces for relaxing, grilling, and dining. Four chairs surround a bluestone table in the cocktail area, and a glass and wrought-iron dining table and six chairs, a set that belonged to Donahue's grandparents, is aligned perfectly with the monument, towering overhead.

Neither Donahue nor Fortier have a background in gardening, but their deck gives these weekend gardeners a chance to get some dirt under their nails.

Over the years they've determined which perennials do well under the hot, windy conditions typical of rooftop gardens. Evergreens, honeysuckles, trumpet vines, and lilies flourish all summer long with the help of an automated watering system. Herbs are within an easy reach of the grill for that fresh, last-minute flavor addition.

"The roof deck was a big reason we decided to purchase the property," Donahue says. "We hope we've taken it to the next level with our renovations."