Mini Globes Plant Watering System

We were going to be gone for five days. It’s been over three years since we have left the state to go anywhere. So much so that we almost forgot how to pack. But within that five day period the plants and the flowers still need attention. The indoor plants would be fine because we water them once a week. But the outdoor balcony flowers might be at risk - especially the grocery store mini rose plant that my husband has been successfully caring for for three years. So my husband tends to these balcony flowers and would feel terrible if anything happened to them. So I remembered that we had the mini globe plant watering system that we used for our indoor plants whenever we were gone for over a week - in the old days. After watering the window baskets for the last time and on the evening before we left, we got out the glass balls and filled them with water. Then we placed them in the rose plant and the baskets. The next morning the water level was still full. Between any rain storms and this set up we hoped everything would turn out okay. So when we arrived back this week we were so happy to see that all of the plants and flowers survived. Because we have such a tiny garden each flower has a lot more meaning. I’m glad I remembered the water globes. When we were putting them back to store again I realized that we had three more larger ones that could have been used. Oh well - maybe next time. 

The Goldfinch and the Zinnia

Apparently they like yellow flowers. It seems they like orange zinnias too. We have a very small balcony garden composed of three coco lined baskets that hang from the back of the chairs. We fill the baskets with spikes, and other annual flowers and hope for the best. The crows have a tendency to go after the cocoliners! They also like to hide stuff and they squawk a lot whenever we are outside. Rarely do we get other types of birds since we live above the second floo. Once in a while a morning dove stops in and a sparrow. So we were surprised to see what we thought was a female goldfinch hanging around the orange zinnia. We noticed it one day around mid morning. It must have liked whatever it was looking for and eating because it returned the next day about the same time. But this time she was having more than a feast. She devoured my zinnias! I was just commenting about how pretty the flowers were looking. And there she was - pulling one petal out after the other until just the centers were left. I really like birds of all kinds but was quite distracted by this one. Maybe it was because we have so few flowers to begin with. I suppose it was worth watching the bird have a good time. I’m glad it doesn’t care for the other flowers. I wonder if it will return? 

Ginkgo Gardens Balcony Baskets Made to Order

When we lived on Capitol Hill we always went to Ginkgo Gardens for not only flowers, but house decorative elements like wall vases and even a glass topped bedside table that started out as a plant stand. When we moved to northern Virginia last year, we continued to drive in to town for our gardening needs. The last time we visited was to stock up on house plants - since our tiny patio garden was now replaced by a console table for house plants in the dining room. At least would would still have some greenery to care for. But this year we wanted to have something more than a single pot with one flower on the balcony. I searched on line for window boxes appropriate for the space but couldn’t find anything I liked. Then I thought about Ginkgo Gardens. We didn’t want to go in to any store, but wondered if something could be requested on line. I went to the website to see what the options might be. There was a form to complete about any pick up request. So I filled in the fact that we were loyal customers and wanted three “window boxes” or something like that for the balcony filled with flowers that could stand the hot westerly sun. They responded by phone the next morning to ask about and get more details, and that we could pick the containers up that afternoon. Having done all the transactions on line and by phone, we drove in to town and pulled in to the back of the building, through the DC alley ways. Julie met us with mask and gloves and put two of the containers in the trunk and one in the back seat. We ended up with coco liner metal containers that are lined in plastic with moss covering the dirt. Although I am used to jamming the pot full of flowers, spikes and flowing greens, these were spaced out evenly and organized. I’ll be adding more items later and am looking for on line options. I did need to order some zip ties to hang the containers with because the brackets that come with the items were much too large. We were happy to get any sort of option that would bring a bit of whimsy to our balcony - and add a bit of color to a very sterile metal area. In just a week the flowers are doing well. Now I just need to keep the crows at bay.