...sitting in the backyard and listening to the soft whispering of grasses...
found here
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Showing posts with label plants. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plants. Show all posts
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
SMALL SPACES: New Impressions from the Balcony Garden
This year the weather is really crazy - very humid but relatively warm - at least most of the time. It's good for the plants because they grow like crazy - not so good for the blooms I must say though. Simply not enough sunshine.
I have grown 3 different Tropaeolum this year and they are forming a real jungle in the meanwhile and the bees and bumblebees love their blooms which is wonderful - even at a height of more than 120 feet!!! I love bumblebees. Here are some vignettes how even a small space can transform into a lovely little garden.
This was the beginning of May:
As you can see I have quite a lot of pots hanging from the ceiling which is doing the trick if you are very constraint with space (even my little Oleander tree is hanging):
4 weeks later it already looked like this - the Tropaeolum started to climb:
Now this is the view I have when I am sitting on my balcony - the ugly outer world has been shut off completely - at least by sight:
Our pigeons love this jungle - can hide between the leaves and relax there:
My Epiphyllum gave me soom blooms this year again:
Btw - this year I have spent less than a 100 bucks on my balcony garden including all the new pots/containers, potting soil, new herbs and seeds and even my new Oleander tree. (Last one was killed in the awfully cold winter). You see you don't need to spend a whole lot of money to create a little garden in your modest home.
Btw - you don't even need to buy expensive seeds or plants. Some vegetables have lovely blooms and the green leaves are sometimes very interesting, climbers and non-climbers. And if you are lucky you can even harvest the fruit in the end. Last year I even had some beans on the balcony. Unfortunately the rest of the plant was eaten untimely by lice.
I am growing a lot of Anthericum as well which can serve as a filler for empty places, is easy to grow from its own branches and looks wonderful when blooming (the blooms here are from my cactus though).
And this is my balcony as it looks now - wonderfully overgrown:
Here are a few more impressions what you can do with your balcony:
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This is a real surprise for me that you can grow Brugmansia on the balcony:
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Such a balcony garden adds to a romantic feeling - doesn't it - and is full of life instead of grey concrete. The plants create a soothing climate on your balcony, keep off dust and even pollution to some extent. They can serve as a windshield as well as a sunscreen. I could not do without them any more...
~~~
I have grown 3 different Tropaeolum this year and they are forming a real jungle in the meanwhile and the bees and bumblebees love their blooms which is wonderful - even at a height of more than 120 feet!!! I love bumblebees. Here are some vignettes how even a small space can transform into a lovely little garden.
This was the beginning of May:
As you can see I have quite a lot of pots hanging from the ceiling which is doing the trick if you are very constraint with space (even my little Oleander tree is hanging):
4 weeks later it already looked like this - the Tropaeolum started to climb:
Now this is the view I have when I am sitting on my balcony - the ugly outer world has been shut off completely - at least by sight:
Our pigeons love this jungle - can hide between the leaves and relax there:
My Epiphyllum gave me soom blooms this year again:
Btw - this year I have spent less than a 100 bucks on my balcony garden including all the new pots/containers, potting soil, new herbs and seeds and even my new Oleander tree. (Last one was killed in the awfully cold winter). You see you don't need to spend a whole lot of money to create a little garden in your modest home.
Btw - you don't even need to buy expensive seeds or plants. Some vegetables have lovely blooms and the green leaves are sometimes very interesting, climbers and non-climbers. And if you are lucky you can even harvest the fruit in the end. Last year I even had some beans on the balcony. Unfortunately the rest of the plant was eaten untimely by lice.
I am growing a lot of Anthericum as well which can serve as a filler for empty places, is easy to grow from its own branches and looks wonderful when blooming (the blooms here are from my cactus though).
And this is my balcony as it looks now - wonderfully overgrown:
(all photos above ©Petra Voegtle)
Here are a few more impressions what you can do with your balcony:
This is a real surprise for me that you can grow Brugmansia on the balcony:
Such a balcony garden adds to a romantic feeling - doesn't it - and is full of life instead of grey concrete. The plants create a soothing climate on your balcony, keep off dust and even pollution to some extent. They can serve as a windshield as well as a sunscreen. I could not do without them any more...
~~~
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
GUEST POST: Interior Designing with Topiaries
I simply love plants and I could not imagine living in a home without any plants. So this guest post by Jenna Lee Smith is right up my aisle:
Interior Designing With Topiaries
The horticultural practice known as 'topiary' dates back centuries and has been used for everything from Roman castle entrances, courtyards, and portable displays at Disneyland to subtle indoor decorating in modern homes. Popularized in films such as Edward Scissorhands, The Shining, and Errol Morris's delightful documentary Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control, most people don't realize that topiary displays can be used subtly to achieve remarkable effects, both outdoor and indoor. Indeed, both faux and real topiaries made from evergreen create a one-of-a-kind decorum to your living room, bathroom or bedroom. Here are some of your best options for uniquely artistic indoor horticultural design:
Chinese Evergreen—Boasting minimalistic care-taking and dark green and silver tones, Chinese Evergreen is durable and works wonderfully for indoor contours and corners. Compatible with a variety of styles, including Feng Shui, pair this plant with low lights and virtually any furniture you want. It even works in home offices, for which you can acquire any number of appropriate accessories and furnishing at the RoomPlace furniture stores.
Angel Ivy Ring Topiary—Angel ivy, or wire vine, is a perfect accessorizing plant because it grows fast, contains thick foliage, and works well as a frame for flowers, lights, and even furniture. Popular among gardeners for its versatility and stylish festivity, angel ivy proves you don't need to be outdoors to harness the aesthetic power of the topiary.
Miniature Herb Topiaries—Herbal topiaries comprising lavender, rosemary, serissa, and a variety of other herbs can be lively and verdant additions to a room. Mixing the benefits of wonderful fragrances and pleasing shapes, herbal topiaries work great in sunny kitchen window sills or as refreshing bathroom accessories.
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Cactus Combo Bonsai—This one's not for everyone, but can certainly add an interesting flourish to non-traditional rooms. A mosaic of different cacti shapes and colors can afford an interior space a Southwestern motif or an exotic centerpiece for an indoor fountain. They're also perfect for table tops and window sills and require very little maintenance.
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Myrtle topiaries—Though miniature myrtle topiaries are better suited for outdoor use, during cooler months they can be used indoors if they are rotated often. Myrtle adds a naturalistic touch to rooms.
Interior designing can receive a nice artistic infusion of green vitality from plants, vegetation and topiaries. Many interior decorators insist that topiaries can be the saving grace in the layout of a room. Look into Angel Ivy Rings, Chinese Evergreen, Miniature Herb, Cactus Combo Bonsai, and Myrtle Topiaries can all bring fresh perspectives to your home interiors.
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Thank you, Jenna, for this lovely article!
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Wednesday, November 16, 2011
GUEST POST: 8 Must Have Plants for the Holidays
Holiday decoration is soon to come. Here is a guest post from Brianna Davis:
If getting an interior ready for the holidays, fresh greenery is a must. But which plants are associated with the holidays and can be utilized for indoor decorating? The below is a list of eight must have plants for the holidays, which include a few well known plants and even some only told of in stories.
Brianna Davis keeps up the site Bachelors of Arts Schools. Her site helps students find the right college to get a degree in the arts.
8 Must Have Plants for the Holidays
1. Poinsettias – These red and green flowers are a staple for the holidays. They can be used in boxes, vases, as garlands, and many other uses. They need lots of direct sunlight, water when the first half inch of soil dries, and liquid fertilizer.
Image source: http://www.cherrygal.com/
2. Holly – There is a reason the Christmas carols say to deck the halls with this plant. Hollies have distinctive, crisp, green leaves in addition to bright red berries for that Christmas color scheme. They are often used in hedges and can withstand heavy pruning.
image source: www.tortenwelt-shop.com/
3. Evergreen – These trees are commonly known as Christmas trees. Spanning from a few inches to several dozen feet, these trees are the kind that decorated indoors with lights, tinsel, and much more. However, those with a yard and a knack can plant their own. In addition to evergreen trees, firs, pine trees, spruce, and others can also double as Christmas trees.
image source: www.henryfields.ca
4. Mistletoe – Known as the kissing plant, what holiday would be complete without one? Usually joined together in a bunch and hung over a doorway, mistletoe is actually a semi-parasitic plant and grows on the branches of various host trees. A little known fact is that in the first days of mistletoe kissing, a berry would be plucked for each kiss until they were all gone.
image source: metrolic.com
5. Christmas Cactus – The plant earned its name for a reason. Not a traditional cactus in the spiked sense, this plant almost looks like a fern with pink flowers growing on it. Another plus of the Christmas cactus is its low maintenance.
©Petra Voegtle
6. Laurel – These shrubs are relatives of azaleas and are best known for their white flowers. It is a broadleaf evergreen commonly found in New England. They are also commonly found as accents in Christmas wreaths.
image source: herberowe.wordpress.com
7. Frankincense – One of the three gifts for Baby Jesus, many have heard of it, but few know what it is. This herb is made from the Boswellia tree. It is commonly burned during church masses and has a distinct smell.
image source: incensedshop.com
8. Myrrh – Like the above, this is also one of the gifts the three wisemen brought for Christmas. It is from the Commiphora myrrha tree. It is also used as incense burned during church ceremonies. It is also used as an antiseptic in mouthwashes and toothpastes.
image source: pointsoflight.com
Brianna Davis keeps up the site Bachelors of Arts Schools. Her site helps students find the right college to get a degree in the arts.
~~~
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Autumn on the Balcony
No place is too small to not grow something, to not have some living plant in pots on a small balcony or loggia, or even only on the windowsill. The internet can give you plenty of ideas how to start something like that, non-costly, non-labour-intensive.
This year I decided to do something about the missing colours at this time of the year. In the past I was always quite depressed when the plants had to come in to protect them from cold temperatures. The balcony then looked grey and abandoned. A sad view. Now we have end of October and my balcony is still full of colours thanks to one of the most wonderful flowers which show their true beauty especially at fall: Chrysanthemum.
You get them in nearly all colours you could imagine, you get them in all sizes, from large to tiny and you get them in various blossoms shapes - with very large blossoms which unfortunately do not survive frost but there are plenty enough, smaller blossoms which do. Even my Oleander is still blooming and adds his wonderful pink colour to the chorus:
This year I decided to do something about the missing colours at this time of the year. In the past I was always quite depressed when the plants had to come in to protect them from cold temperatures. The balcony then looked grey and abandoned. A sad view. Now we have end of October and my balcony is still full of colours thanks to one of the most wonderful flowers which show their true beauty especially at fall: Chrysanthemum.
You get them in nearly all colours you could imagine, you get them in all sizes, from large to tiny and you get them in various blossoms shapes - with very large blossoms which unfortunately do not survive frost but there are plenty enough, smaller blossoms which do. Even my Oleander is still blooming and adds his wonderful pink colour to the chorus:
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