Balcony Flowers

There is nothing like a garden. In the Midwest we had several small gardens, window boxes and pots. It took several trips to the nursery to get enough flowers to fill them all. When we moved to a tiny condo on Capitol Hill almost fifteen years ago, we had a very small patio. It was a unique feature and we took full advantage of it. We had a few pots and a great planting space for perennials. Now that we live in Northern Virginia we have an even smaller balcony. We can’t hang anything off the rails so we came up with an idea to hang the coco liners on the backs of the chairs. That makes three planters that face outward. Last year we had them put together at Gingko Gardens in DC and we picked them up curbside. This year we went to American plant and selected seven flowers that we preferred. In the window boxes are perennial liriope that I put in last fall. I had cut them back and happily they are all returning. Some of the ivy didn’t survive but some of it did. So a few weeks back the new six flowers were planted outside and a seventh was put in the house. But that one didn’t do very well inside. So the pot was put outside, and the plant was cut back and watered. It is finally starting to bloom again. I think it would do better in the coco liners. These flowers get the full sun of the afternoon and require a lot of watering. They have all done well so far and I hope they continue to thrive this summer. There really is nothing like a garden - no matter what the size. 

Petunia Stigma

We had a bit of botany in my biology classes at Florida State University. I’m sure we covered a bit of the subject in high school too. But since I’m not particularly good in science or math, many of these related subjects neither stuck with me, nor was I particularly interested. Since we attached a few “coco lined” window boxes to the backs of our patio chairs on the balcony, I now have a birds eye view of the annual flowers planted in them. What interested me the most was a tiny green fluorescent colored ball in the center of the petunias - all of them. Because of the sun, they seemed brilliant. It got me to wonder what it was, so I went about “researching” the subject. I had already read about the best way to keep the petunias flowering by deadheading them correctly. Apparently this green tiny bulb is the stigma, that attracts the pollinators. The names all sounded familiar, but my interest waned after reading a bit more. I was more interested in taking photos of the luscious colors. That in itself tells the story of my brain. I’m more interested in how something looks rather than learn about the function - unless of course, someone tells me about it. Regardless, I’m thrilled to have a tiny garden on our balcony and it’s the first time I can watch everything so closely. I’ve had a lot of time to do that lately - as long as the weather cooperates. 

  

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. 

Hooks & Lattice Window Box Beauty Contest on Instagram

I post five Washington DC photos on Instagram every day. It's rather easy because we walk every morning and there is always something that captures my interest. Along with those, I add one digital image of a portrait that I am just starting, working on, or finishing. It's one of many social media sites I try to keep up with. Yesterday I received a notice on Instagram if I was interested in winning a $100 prize for a window box beauty contest sponsored by hooks and lattice. All I had to do was respond "yes" on the image that was noticed. It's of a grey townhouse/rowhouse that really stuck out a few weeks back because of the several matching window boxes on both stories, and the well manicured flower arrangements contrasting against the house color. First of all I am flattered that they noticed! I'm sorry I didn't know about this earlier because the weekly contests end on September 29. Now I'll need to keep my eyes peeled for window boxes. It would be a treat to win, but getting noticed was just as good!