Bulbs (life in the slow lane)

On May 1, I planted some bulbs purchased at Home Depot. The prices were attractive and some bulbs were in better shape (health quality) than others. My list of bulbs included:

10 Oriental Lilies
3 Elephant Ears (Colocasia Esculenta)
10 Caladium Fancy Leaf Mixed

By May 20, the Oriental Lilies were growing nicely (top photo right). Math not being my strong suit, I cannot help but notice fewer than 10 bulbs are actively growing. As of June 4, I see some viable buds have formed.


The Caladium bulbs broke through the soil in the last few days of May. As of June 4, I see the actual leaves ready to unfold (see 2nd photo on right). I wonder if these will need to be transplanted? Ha, this also makes me wonder if I'll bother taking these bulbs out of the soil and store for the winter (or plant in soil).




So what is going on with those Elephant Ears? I only purchased three of these bulbs and it appears that only one is looking viable (see 3 little shoots springing up a mere five weeks after planting).

Note to Self: No bulbs next year.

I Love the Night Life -- I Love to Boogie

One thing I desired for my balcony was a "evening look". Sort of a "Moonlight at the Oasis" feeling.

Luxurious. Indulgent. Private.

Back at one of my favorite stores, Home Goods, I found a string of indoor/outdoor lights with a pseudo-ceramic white housing. The white ceramic goes with my candle lantern and blends nicely with the white iron railing. I checked for UL safety rating on my purchase. My only disappointment is that I purchased just one string. Too bad. Maybe, just maybe, it would have been effective, or more interesting, with another string.


Step One

I nestle the string of lights in the lower tier planter as the sun begins to set (see photo 1). I like it! I'm sure a string of "christmas" lights or rope lighting would work equally as well -- be sure to use Outdoor rated lights only!

My co-op complex provides lighting along the walkways and on the building entrances. The owner of each unit has the ability to add his or her own source of lighting for evenings outside on the balcony/patio. Some of my neighbors have installed outdoor sconces of varying designs and degrees of brightness. Personally, I just do not care for the look. If I want to read in the dark, I will move indoors and use "real" lights.

For my personal outdoor space? I prefer lighting that is more soothing, subtle and romantic.



Step Two

I add my ceramic lantern (yep, Home Goods)and light up that candle (photo #2).

If you don't have one of these lanterns available, try a round goldfish bowl from your local pet store or a decorative round bowl from Crate & Barrel or similar store. Add a 3" wide, 3" tall pillar candle and about 2 inches of sand to hold the candle. I'd recommend that you not use a candle taller than 3" as the wind may effect the clean burning of the flame (or blow it out).

Additionally, sometimes a high flame causes an uneven burning of the pillar candle wax. For fun, you could add some marbles, sea shells, or other non-flammable decorative items to the bottom of the glass bowl. The sand will hold the candle steady.



Step Three -- Enjoy

As dusk turned into darkness, I loved the look of the lights peeking through the plants. These little lights were showing just on my side and would be nearly invisible to the outside viewer.

Here is a view of my final effect (photo 3). Nice!

What's Inspiring Me

What's inspiring me right now?  Sustainable products... There are many beautiful products on the market with more elements of  sustainability than ever before. Most manufacturers are including more and more items in their product lines that emphasize green living. I recently had a client with extreme allergies so I sourced fabrics low in chemical exposure. Here are designs that incorporate sustainable products beautifully. Concrete floors, teak ceilings, bamboo bedding, non VOC paint, recycled copper, recycled glass and recycled plastics for carpet are common green materials .  This list is not all inclusive.  New green products are coming to market all the time. Many are made in the US but there are imports too.
 

Breath easy at night ... no off gassing with these materials 

Non VOC paint and recycled glass make a wonderful outdoor room...photo LA Times

Teak teamed with stainless steel create a posh modern Copat kitchen

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 Teak on the ceiling, non VOC paint on the walls, a rug dyed with natural dyes... Is that the aesthetic you're working toward?

 

 Q Collection  fabric and furniture uses non toxic materials in their manufacturing process. You wont find toxic glues and  formaldehyde in their furniture

The Todhunter Sofa

 

Kiss My Arse Recliner

Acrobat - Mustard seed/Charcoal  -to the trade

How about bamboo & reeds for window shades?

 

  Pair woven shades with traditional drapes - photo:Traditional Home

 

Balcony Plantings Filling In by June 3

I am not about to say this balcony garden is "mature". According to my Zone 7 plantings, I should only be a week to 2 weeks into safe plantings.

Accordingly I am simply enjoying the changes that are occurring in my garden.

A View from the Top

Rather enjoyed taking my camera for this view. Towards the right, those blue pansies are hanging a bit out and down. These window boxes are getting full. Still love those colors! I see the night lighting has turned on since this is about 8pm when I took this photo.



The View Outward

The trailers planted in these two boxes are reaching out towards each other and beginning to blend. I'm pretty crazy for that yellow plant by Proven Winners. The white Bacopa (right)is favored by the bees.

Rex Begonias Progress June 3

Here's my informal study on my lovely rex begonias. I bought five (5) plants of approximately the same size. The pots were the same size though the number and size of leaves were slightly different.

I've never grown these plants before and I'm finding them to be charming here on the balcony.


How much sun is the right amount of sun for a rex begonia?


Enter ==> Left Brain Thought. I'll just wander about my Zen Luxury Garden and place my Stanley measuring tape. Might be interesting as time goes on for the season.

The top two photos are of the rex begonias that were planted on May 7. They are on my inside railing and receive Direct Sun at approximately 1pm and filtered sun by about 4pm. They appear to be thriving. Evidence of what I call "crispy leaf" was after those 40 degree evenings (brrrr).


The third photo is of a little guy that has been planted since May 7 (alongside an Elephant Ears bulb & pansy)in a glazed clay pot. Never had a moment of full sun, this little planter lives beneath the hanging planters. Looking a bit like a "non-performer". Healthy, yet limited growth. Rex is about 8" against the others' approximate 11" across the widest point.


In photo four, this lovely dark rex was just planted on May 21 into my community "shade planter". These plants get direct sun only after 5 pm. Interesting how quickly the leaves on this rex seem to just stretch out in comfort.



In the bottom photo, this rex got tucked into the planter as a safety precaution. I was leaving town for 3 days and figured the plant would die if left alone in its 3" nursery pot. Yes, I could not find a "home" for this little cutie, so I kept the poor rex in its original plastic planter. Ouch. Though still a bit smaller than the big three, this rex is looking pretty happy here and beginning to spread.

Time for a Trim & Pondering

As I have noted in previous blog entries, the early summer has been off to a rough start, including very cold nights in early May and some heavy rain.

Overall, my new, over-indulgent balcony garden has done quite well. Today, I did some trimming of damaged leaves and a trim on some trailers in order to encourage growth. Also did some dead-heading on pansies and petunias.

Was it just the weather that I've been fighting against? I'm getting a bit suspicious that these nursery stock plants have been "forced" before their normal blooming time. I have no idea what is required to allow these plants to get back "in sync" with the rhythms of nature.

The Crotons have been the biggest puzzlement. Franky, they are like artificial wax plants. Barely move. Fall apart in heavy rain. Ugh.

Those zinnias amaze me. They all have substantial leaf damage, yet they continue to produce bold blooms. I've been watching a singular bloom continue for 4 weeks. How is that even possible? The big Dahlia blooms gave way to small, faded replacements (yeah, that plant has been relocated off my balcony).



The hibiscus put out very few blooms so far. I was sure excited when I had 3 going on one day. Whoo hoo. OK, I just repotted the poor thing back on May 21 and I'm sure it needs some recovery time. It looks good here in this photo (lower right). Healthy -- but no blooms.



My gorgeous blue hydrangea is fading out to, I don't know, sort of a dried flower effect. I brought this summer plant home on April 30. Instead of growing into, or hey, maybe just "maintaining" its summer blooms, these 3 large blooms look like the hydrangeas planted around this complex usually appear in early September. Bad bad bad. I am disappointed. Guess I bought a plant that was forced prior to Mother's Day. Love these plants. I will look to over-winter this in the soil or transplant it at the end of the season. End of the season? It looks prematurely ready for end of season in another week or so.

Morning Bee Visit

I found another variety of bee stopping by this morning.

That's rather interesting, they both like the same variety of flower. I'm surprised I haven't seen them at the Torina yet, though that appeared as a bee-favorite years ago on my balcony.