I'm working, finally, at making the balcony look decent. I decided on a very strict color scheme of white, blue, green, and dark brown. What is more fresh and soothing than the combination of blue, green, and white?
I bought a couple of pots and a couple of plants: an inexpensive sweet potato vine for its brown color, and a climbing 'Iceberg' for the new trellis.
I finally decided on the rose after a lot of thought about other options. The deciding factor was that I know how 'Iceberg' should look--if it starts to look poorly and tired in its pot, I can do things to make it happy. With other plants, I would be uncertain if they were thriving or malingering.
I'm pushing myself to try painting some of the terra-cotta colored pots up there already either blue or dark brown. I got the plastic paint. It's ready to try.
I'm not sure if I'll use these bin planters or not. I'll probably put Agaves in there if I do--there are three more of the blue and white (well close enough) A. americana 'Medio-picta Alba' waiting for a home:
Of course there are always distractions. An emergency project--I discovered nut sedge in the little lawnlet, so the whole area had to be dug out to try to eliminate this noxious invader.
Digging out the little lawn would have taken me a week; my mow-blow guy did it in less than ten minutes. Now the turf and weeds sit drying out so I can trash them. Moist, the pile weighs at least 200 lbs. Dried out, maybe 20 lbs.
While on the balcony I kludged up a hanger for the bat house--good enough for this summer--but a better solution is required. Now we'll be watching for bats at sunset.
Another rose seedling has bloomed: this one a child of 'Renae'. It's a white version of pink 'Renae'. Ain't it cute?
To end, the pretty foliage of Leucadendron linifolium.
I bought a couple of pots and a couple of plants: an inexpensive sweet potato vine for its brown color, and a climbing 'Iceberg' for the new trellis.
I finally decided on the rose after a lot of thought about other options. The deciding factor was that I know how 'Iceberg' should look--if it starts to look poorly and tired in its pot, I can do things to make it happy. With other plants, I would be uncertain if they were thriving or malingering.
I'm pushing myself to try painting some of the terra-cotta colored pots up there already either blue or dark brown. I got the plastic paint. It's ready to try.
I'm not sure if I'll use these bin planters or not. I'll probably put Agaves in there if I do--there are three more of the blue and white (well close enough) A. americana 'Medio-picta Alba' waiting for a home:
Of course there are always distractions. An emergency project--I discovered nut sedge in the little lawnlet, so the whole area had to be dug out to try to eliminate this noxious invader.
Digging out the little lawn would have taken me a week; my mow-blow guy did it in less than ten minutes. Now the turf and weeds sit drying out so I can trash them. Moist, the pile weighs at least 200 lbs. Dried out, maybe 20 lbs.
While on the balcony I kludged up a hanger for the bat house--good enough for this summer--but a better solution is required. Now we'll be watching for bats at sunset.
Another rose seedling has bloomed: this one a child of 'Renae'. It's a white version of pink 'Renae'. Ain't it cute?
To end, the pretty foliage of Leucadendron linifolium.
Love the blue pot with the rose in it. Nice! Looking forward to seeing the new and improved balcony
ReplyDeleteThanks, I hope I can manage to make it look good.
DeleteAt least you won't have bats in your belfry! Wow, what a fun balcony project you've undertaken. I'm sure that it, like everything you do, will look marvelous when you're finished!
ReplyDeleteWell, we'll see...
DeleteWhoa. Is that an enormous Echeveria next to that tiny rose? Or is the rose just really really tiny? It's like the old TV show Land of the Giants.
ReplyDeleteLove your blue pot. The rose looks good in it. I like blue with terra cotta, though. I'd leave them plain.
That's a very happy Dudleya of unknown species. Does kind of remind me of LotG, funny!
DeleteThe Terra cotta color of blends into the tiles too much--I'm going to try one pot, a cruddy one that needs painting anyway, and see how it looks.
I like the color choices you decided on for your balcony and the bat house is a neat addition. I think my wife would serve me with divorce papers if I tried to add one of those to my property though.
ReplyDeleteSomebody wanted $700 to put the bat house on a tall metal pole in the corner of the yard, ridiculous price, so my temporary solution was in the photo. Last year they were nesting in the recessed lights in the patio, which was totally too close. Now they are more out of the way. My old neighbors who have been here since the 60s said that spot was a long time roosting place for bats. There was a burnt out old tree they were using. I feel like I owe the bats some safe spot--they were here long before we were.
DeleteBats are voracious predators of mosquitoes...
Yeah, I wouldn't mind having the bats fly around at dusk and eating some pesky mosquitoes. I actually have fond childhood memories of throwing pebbles out over the lake and watching bats dart toward them thinking it was something to eat.
DeleteBut my wife is afraid of just about anything that flies so I can't be seen helping out the enemy.
I laughed when I saw your comment about the mow/blow guy completing lawn removal in 10 minutes that otherwise would have taken you a week. I have an ongoing argument with my husband about the value of having someone dig out the latest (large) patch of lawn slated for removal. After getting really hot and sweaty yesterday on a small patch yesterday (despite relatively cool weather), I think he's beginning to see it my way.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with work on the balcony! Getting started is 1/2 the battle.
It really would have taken me a week, and it really did take mow/blow guy 10 minutes.
DeleteThe balcony is a battle alright. I did get started, so am I done yet?
The Iceberg rose in the blue pot is a good choice I think. Interesting that tiny seedling rose. Your balcony willbe great when finished. It's fun looking for bats at sunset, we have them too.
ReplyDeleteYou have bats as well! I did not realize that. We think of Europe as so urban, but it isn't completely built over, still some wild creatures live there.
Delete