An Estonian girl who has found a home in Sweden.

Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gardening. Show all posts

Monday, October 27

Autumn Balcony

October 27, 2014 Posted by Vaire , , ,

It took me a while to find plants for autumn/winter season for the balcony. I wanted something that could possibly stay over the winter, so I waited until the late autumn plants came to stores.

Autumn Balcony

At first I bought three green plants only, but it was too monotonous even though all three were different greens. I love these decorative cabbages, so I got one for a little colour. I made sure that all these plants can stay outside in the winter and may even survive it if the winter is warm enough.

Autumn Balcony

The grass got a spot on the bench. I've packed away all the extra pots and holder rings to wait for spring, and rolled up the plastic rug for winter. I kinda like the wood floor, so maybe I'll keep it that way even in summer. It was so nice under the foot compared to the concrete or even the plastic rug.

Friday, June 6

Summer Preparations

June 06, 2014 Posted by Vaire , ,

The weather has been a bit erratic lately, but it is warming up. So I decided that it was about time I did something with the balcony.

Summer Balcony

New flowers, a bit of a clean, put the cypress out, and there you are. I'll probably move the cypress to the other end soon, but for now, I just want to keep an eye on it easily. Besides, the plants are just so pretty, I don't want hide them around the corner.

Things left to do: get a rug, or a wood deck, or both. The grey concrete is pretty, but it is so very cold and hard under feet. I want something that withstands the seasons and lets the water through, and is pretty. So far, a solution has proven to be elusive, but it'll come. One day I shall find exactly what I am looking for.

Friday, October 11

Greenery

October 11, 2013 Posted by Vaire , ,

Remember when I went overboard with flowers in the Summer? No? No worries, here's how it was:

Summer Balcony

Many big boxes overflowing with all sorts of flowers. Way too many. The individual flowers got lost in the mass, and all that watering! Some days I had to water twice a day to keep all flowers happy. Not good for me or for them.

I have learned my lesson:

Autumn Balcony

More space for the flowers to shine individually, fewer kinds, less watering. Perfect.

I took down the bigger boxes and stored them in the basement. I may use one or two next Summer, but probably not all three together in this configuration. I moved the cypress inside to protect it from the winds and cold. If it survives the Winter and being gnawed on by Sona, it gets to go outside again next year.

I love having a balcony. I love having the option of having plants that can go outside in the Summer. I love having enough light to have plants inside all year round.

Plant on a shelf

This little thing seems to be happy in the book shelf, even though it rarely gets any direct sunlight. The light levels are not optimal, so I have to turn it once in a while for it to get light evenly. That's why it's leaning a bit, it'll straighten itself out soon.

I just love this place.

Monday, July 15

It Has Been a Year

July 15, 2013 Posted by Vaire , , , ,

It doesn't feel like a year has passed since I moved. A year. Already! But it has. A year ago last week, I moved, and then crashed and slept for three days. Sona was so scared of all the new that he crawled under the blanket with me and came out only to eat and use the litter box.

Sona

It is a year later and he is a lot more relaxed. He takes a keen interest in the bugs and birds flying outside, and he seems to enjoy his life. He even has started to snuggle up to me in the chair or even sleep on my lap a bit. And that makes me insanely happy.

Flowers on the balcony

Last summer I was so tired and so overwhelmed by all that needed to be done indoors that I didn't do anything at the balcony. This summer is different. At first, I decided upon what hardware to buy, and now I've started filling the boxes with flowers. I might have gone overboard a bit...

There are three big rectangular boxes, three rings with medium flower pots, and one big ring with a bucket. Then there is the cypress that survived the winter, a couple of grasses in mini pots, and a round lantern. Not to mention the black rattan chair (which takes up nearly half the balcony) and the little metal night table.

It feels like there's too much stuff on the balcony right now. It's hard to water the plants in the back box because the chair is in the way. Sadly the chair is way too big for my balcony and the rattan won't survive the winter. I am going to replace it with metal folding chairs with much smaller footprint. That way they can be folded and out of the way when they are not needed, and the metal will survive the winters.

I would also like to find something to put on the concrete. An outdoor rug or wood boards, or something. I love the grey colour, but it's so cold under bare feet. And then there is the bannister of colour that defies description. It needs to be covered with something somehow because painting it is not an option.

When I moved, I had no idea how much I'd love this place. It is just the right size for me, I love the layout, the bath, the extra nook in the kitchen, and the view. Every time I think of this place, I think of it as "perfect". And then I remember that the kitchen is horrible, the electricity cables are old, and that the entry floor is dreadful.

But all that, it doesn't matter. All that can be fixed, I just need to save up, rebuild, and restore. It will take years, and I'm fine with that. I have found my forever home.